Andy Dannatt's crack on Ellery's jaw weren't a bad un. I will decline any comparison's with the weekend!

Cassidy's Tito-Santana-esque flying forearm on Morley in the late 90s (98?) was pretty bad. Newton's late hit on Sean Long in 2005(?) was pretty ugly too. Prior to the SL era such things were more commonplace, so the comparison may not be fair. Dannatt's on Hanley stood out even in those days though.

For pure cowardly malice I think Isaac Luke's effort on Chase in the 4N last year takes some beating too.

But for "worst tackle" look no further than John Hopoate's "stinky finger" digital rectal examination.

Jesus H Arkwright, I'd forgotten about that!
That concludes this thread I think!!

The worst/most cowardly was Fev v Cas in the mid-80s. Barry Johnson took the ball in, had players all round him holding him up but he still got the ball out, as he always seemed to manage. While he was still held, including both arms, IIRC Tim Slatter nutted him on the jaw, breaking it badly. Johnson did come back from that but broke it again & his Cas career was effectively over.

Craig Miles on Dean Lawford.

I am am gonna put "Englands" Man of steel up there with some of the worst.

The leg twisting incident on Rangi by his Kiwi Pal wasn't good to see.

But it would be right to talk about dirty tackles and not mention the legend that is Kelvin Skerret!

No! tb

Quote ="cushler"I am am gonna put "Englands" Man of steel up there with some of the worst. It would seem the NZ judiciary are as inept as ours.. www.courierma...6-1226112349337 [i=#FF0000Mr Tibaldi suffered a fractured jaw and had metal plates and screws inserted in his face. Ms Arace asked for three years' actual jail time for Chase but Judge Katherine McGinness ordered a two-year term of imprisonment, fully suspended. The judge cited the league player's good work in the English community and his position as a role model. [/i Let you decide'" You need to give it a rest now, this has got absolutely nothing at all to do with the thread title, you're beginning to show yourself up.

Quote ="cushler"I am am gonna put "Englands" Man of steel up there with some of the worst. It would seem the NZ judiciary are as inept as ours.. www.courierma...6-1226112349337 [i=#FF0000Mr Tibaldi suffered a fractured jaw and had metal plates and screws inserted in his face. Ms Arace asked for three years' actual jail time for Chase but Judge Katherine McGinness ordered a two-year term of imprisonment, fully suspended. The judge cited the league player's good work in the English community and his position as a role model. [/i Let you decide'" You need to give it a rest now, this has got absolutely nothing at all to do with the thread title, you're beginning to show yourself up.

Now that might just be the winner.

That's one that really sticks in the gut, I don't think he even got suspended for that, but it more or less ruined BJ's promising career.

That get's my vote and I suspect it always will.

He didn't get penalised at the time & as it was pre-videoing of all games there were no repurcussions, except on Johnson & Cas.

I remember the Tim Slatter head butt, truly awful incident and I believe that previous posters are correct, he went completely unpunished, which is unfortunate.

For me though it's Adrian Morley 12 seconds or so into that GB game, wtf was he thinking?

Seen Kelvin Skerritt do some really nasty stuff too, also the Isaac Luke leg twist on your "man of steel" was horrible.

The difference for me with the Slatter/Johnson incident, similar to the recent Elima/Gaskell one (not in magnitude), was that the attacking player had let go/lost the ball & was entilted to relax his body/alertness & not expect the assault.

Keith Hepworth on Colin Tyrer in the 1970 Challenge Cup Final. The little coward then took to being injured in subsequent games v Wigan until a night game at Leeds a few years later.
Justice and retribution all in one.

Probably the worst seen in a cup final but to call Hepworth - pound for pound the most fearless tackler of a brutal era - a coward beggars belief.

Mainly due to the timing of it and how it probably cost them the game....Adrian Morley's effort to start the Ashes at the then named JJB Stadium.

Bai & Kearney's spear tackle on Jarrod McKracken too.

David Bradbury on Lee Harland at Watersheddings in about 1994 was a bad one. Broke Harland's jaw and he was out for quite some time.

Indeed....also Widnes' Hogan on Brian Hughes circa 1980?

Wasn't that on Mal Reilly - got up & chased him round the pitch with a broken jaw?

Clint Newton on Ashton Simms... Sick

Don't think anybody could ever call Heppy a coward.He was only little but he could take plenty.He used to frighten us to death when he came to the Boulevard with Cas, and his half back partner Hardisty.A good payer he was but never a coward.

Just checked that out and you're right. Seems I was confused by the rumours circulating at the time that Brian Hughes boarded the Widnes coach seeking retribution but Hogan's team mates managed to protect him.

A few weeks ago some wigan fans were calling Chris Bridge's flop onto Ben jeffries against bradford one of the worst things they had seen on a rugby field.

Is anyone old enough to remeber Tim Slatter vicious assault on Barry Johnson, Fev v Cas early mid 80's. he broke Johnson's jaw, he didnt get sent off. it ruined Johnson's career. Ten times worse than Rangi's. Not condoning Rangis tackle but Slatters a lot worse.
Rovers fans sang "It's there it's everywhere Johnson's jaw" for a couple of season after that.