Dragons forward Ryan Couchman issued a second apology to J’maine Hopgood after copping a four-match ban for the hip drop tackle that ended the Eels forward’s season.
Couchman, who missed most of last season with an ACL injury, expressed his remorse during the 90-minute judiciary hearing and revealed he had approached Hopgood immediately after Sunday’s match to apologise.
“I thought I got a fair hearing, and I want to thank the panel for that,” Couchman said. “I also want to apologise to J’maine and wish him all the best with his recovery. I know what it is like, so I am behind him.
“It can be a tough process but I’m sure he will have great support behind him, and I want to extend my support to him.”
The incident in the 28th minute of Sunday’s match at CommBank Stadium resulted in Couchman being placed on report and sent to the sin bin while Hopgood suffered a season-ending ACL injury in the tackle.
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Ryan Couchman sent to the bin
Couchman told the judiciary panel of former leading referee and long serving official Greg McCallum and ex-international Bob Lindner that he had approached former team-mate Jack De Belin after the match to check on Hopgood.
“Jack told me it was a suspected ACL,” Couchman said. “I was only three games back from an ACL, so I went straight over to him to apologise and tell him it was an accident. He accepted it.”
The 22-year-old entered a guilty plea to the Dangerous Contact charge and was handed a four-game ban.
“Obviously, I’m disappointed I won’t be able to be out there with my team-mates, but I will do everything I can to help them prepare for the next few matches,” he said.
“It’s disappointing that I won’t be able to play footy, but I made a mistake so I’ll cop the four weeks.”
Couchman tendered three character references, including one from former Bulldogs and Wests Tigers coach Mick Potter, who said he was “a person of the highest integrity”, and that the offence was “out of character”.
Former NSW Origin prop Tim Grant, who is now a Wests Tigers official, and Couchman’s junior coach at the Thirroul Butchers, Jarrod Costello, also submitted character references on his behalf.
His legal counsel Nick Ghabar argued a three-match suspension was appropriate based on the four-match ban imposed on Manly prop Toff Sipley for a hip drop tackle that left Dragons winger Mat Feagai with a broken leg in 2024.
Summary of reasons for the decision
Judiciary Chair, The Honourable Geoffrey Bellew AM SC, said in his summary of reasons that the panel took into account Couchman’s good character and remorse but believed he should have pulled out of the tackle to avoid the risk of injury.
“The decision of the Panel was unanimous and did not require the casting vote of the Chairperson,” he said.
“By reference to angles three and five of the footage of the incident, the Panel were satisfied that the gravamen of the player’s carelessness lay in the fact that he did not release his grip when, in the Panel’s view, it must have been apparent that it was likely that he would land on the ball carrier.
“Whilst the Panel accepted that this did not incorporate any element of intention or recklessness, it took the view that the player’s level of culpability was significant, a factor reflected in the serious injury sustained by the ball carrier.
“The Panel gave full weight to the references which were tendered on the player’s behalf. They were satisfied that the player is a person of exemplary character, both on and off the field.
“As against that, the Panel were mindful of the need for any penalty to act as a deterrent, not specifically to this player, but to players generally, and to send a clear message that incidents of this nature simply cannot be accepted as a part of the game.
“The Panel considered the tackle of player Sipley but were unable to discern any material difference in the mechanism of that tackle compared with the present incident. The Panel in fact took the view that it was at least arguable that the present incident was worse in some respects.
“However, having regard to all factors, including the player’s plea of guilty, the Panel concluded that a four-match suspension was appropriate.”
Judiciary recap – how the hearing unfolded
7.25pm: Ryan Couchman has been suspended for FOUR matches. He will miss the Dragons’ games against the Titans, Cowboys, Sea Eagles and Rabbitohs and be eligible to return in Round 8 for the ANZAC Day clash with the Roosters.
7.02pm: The hearing has adjourned to decide the penalty – either three or four matches.
6.53pm: Ghabar said the tackle was not as severe as the one by Sipley, who received a four-match ban. “It’s accepted that player Couchman could have been more careful about the way he landed. That is reflected in his guilty of plea.”
Ghabar said a three-match ban would be appropriate.
6.50pm: Among the references was one from former Bulldogs and Wests Tigers coach Mick Potter while former Origin prop Tim Grant and Couchman’s junior coach at Thirroul Butchers, Jarrod Costello, also provided references.
6.44pm: Ghabar has said the tackle is “certainly not in the worst category”. He said it was a “miscalculation”. “This is not a tackle where a player violently swings his hips across the body,” he said.
6.36pm: Gyles has asked for a four-match ban to send a strong message to other players about the risk of injury caused by hip drop tackles.
6.31pm: Gyles said there was a high level of risk of injury and called for the panel to impose a sufficient penalty to deter hip drop tackles. “Mr Couchman’s concern was to complete the tackle. We need to change behaviour. If the panel can assist in discouraging players from the risk of injury it would be a deterrent.”
6.27pm: Gyles suggested that Couchman should have pulled out of the tackle when he lost his grip rather than risk injury. “This is nothing more than a careless mistake. It is not reckless, it is not intentional. As we have heard Mr Couchman has regret about the tackle.”
6.25pm: “I am trying to tackle him around the ball. I kind of lose balance, my legs are a bit far away. I was losing my grip with my right arm and I didn’t get close enough with my feet. I don’t have much base on the ground and J’maine has broken through my tackle,” Couchman said.
“I knew I lost the contact and I lost my balance. My thought was to not land on his leg. I was falling on the ground and I was trying to land my backside on the ground and not his leg. My job is to make the tackle and I didn’t want to miss the tackle. My torso falls on his leg which I understand is a risk of injury. I didn’t mean for that to happen. I didn’t have a grip of J’maine with my left hand and I tried to grab onto Damien.
“I was making an effort not to land on his legs. I made a clumsy mistake. After the game I asked Jack de Belin how J’maine was and he told me it was a suspected ACL. I’m only three games back from an ACL so I went over to see him. He said ‘accidents happen’.”
6.16pm: Ghabar is now questioning Couchman about the tackle on Hopgood.
6.15pm: Ghabar has asked for footage to be shown of a 2024 hip drop tackle by Manly forward Tof Sipley which left Dragons winger Mat Feagai with a broken leg as a comparable incident. Sipley received a four-match ban after being referred to the judiciary.
6.11pm: The hearing has watched video footage of the incident in which Couchman, Damien Cook and Hamish Stewart combined to bring Hopgood down. Cook immediately signals that Hopgood is injured and the Eels forward is seen clutching at the back of his knee.
6.09pm: NRL legal counsel Lachlan Gyles SC has begun the evidence by saying that there is no suggestion Couchman had acted deliberately.
Dragons coach Shane Flanagan, CEO Tim Watsford and Head of Football Ben Haran arrive at NRL headquarters with Ryan Couchman.
©Bojie Wang/NRL Photos
6.06pm: Dragons coach Shane Flanagan, CEO Tim Watsford and Head of Football Ben Haran are in attendance to support Couchman.
6.01pm: Ryan Couchman has entered a guilty plea to a charge of dangerous contact
The hearing has begun, with the case being heard by the judiciary panel of Greg McCallum and Bob Lindner. The judiciary chair is Geoff Bellew, SC.
Couchman is being represented by Nick Ghabar, who has submitted three character references on behalf of Couchman.