NRL Head Clash Comparison: Finucane vs. May Incident Echoes from Past to Present

The NRL’s decision over a sickening clash with Reece Walsh has shone the spotlight on a similar incident from two seasons ago. Sharks enforcer Dale Finucane was suspended for a 2022 head clash with Stephen Crichton which he said “set a precedent for our game moving forward”. Finucane flew out of the line and collected Crichton, earning himself a two-game ban, and the Panthers centre a visit to the plastic surgeon to treat a split in his ear.

The 32-year-old was initially slapped with a three-game ban, but successfully had his charge downgraded. Interestingly, the on-field referee didn’t penalise him or place him in report during the game. Justice Geoffrey Bellow, speaking after Finucane was handed a reduced suspension, explained Crichton’s injury did have an influence on his ban.

Broncos star Reece Walsh was rubbed out of Thursday night’s grand final rematch after just five minutes due a head clash with Taylan May that left him with a facial fracture. May, like Finucane, raced out of the line and made contact with Walsh, with the blow leaving the Broncos fullback bloodied and unable to see out of his eye.

Similarities have been drawn between Finucane and May’s tackles and in both incidents the face of the defender causes injury to that of the attacker. Speaking after Brisbane and Penrith’s Thursday night clash, both coaches Ivan Cleary and Kevin Walters agreed the incident was accidental.