Quote: Big Steve "Compared to the Keighran tackle in the GF which I though was worse and he got sin bin sufficient I think Smith will be OK.
The focus has been about direct contact to the head rather than this type of tackle so I think he should be OK.
The one they will look at more is Ellis - although there were mitigating factors in ellis bending his back, the attacker falling but all depends on how much of a statement the panel want to make in the first week.
On a side note, I think Luke 1st clashed heads then copped an elbow from the Cas player (unintentional) all part of the same tackle. Pretty unlucky.'"
If anything I thought Ellis could do no more, his shoulders appeared to be almost parrallel to the floor he had his back bent that much, if he cops any kind of punishment for that then it is very harsh and I think the RFL would need to consider new rules that say the attacking player cannot bend their back when running in and if they slip then it is deemed a tackle even if a player does not touch them
