The NRL judiciary's decision to suspend Melbourne Storm captain Cam Smith for two matches for his grapple tackle on Brisbane forward Sam Thaiday has been endorsed by martial arts expert.
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Simon Crook, recently retired second dan black belt and instructor with The Jitsu Foundation, condemned Smith's manoeuvre as very dangerous and rehearsed.
"He is initially holding him in a very dangerous headlock (Gyaku Waki Kubi Garami - Reverse armpit neck entanglement)," Crook explained.
"He then swaps arms and throws himself intentionally [known as 'sacrificing his posture') to throw the guy with the ball [Thaiday] in a technical throw known as Uranage or back throw, again a very dangerous technique.
"This appears to be both an intentional and rehearsed manoeuvre in collaboration with his teammates."
Not only do the techniques used look like Jiu Jitsu, Crook goes even further to suggest their origins appear to be from a Japanese (rather than Brazilian) Jiu Jitsu expert.
With Smith rubbed out and running forward Ryan Hoffman out for the season after having ankle surgery the Storm have drifted to the second line of betting. Melbourne are now rated a $2.50 chance to capture a second successive title, behind Manly ($2.40).
