'Not a spear tackle': NRL divided after first send-off in 2019

Canberra centre Nick Cotric has become the first NRL player sent from the field this year after a tackle gone wrong on Sunday night.

The 20-year-old flipped Dragons centre Tim Lafai with 20 minutes remaining in the clash at WIN Stadium.

Leading 26-10 at the time but with St George Illawarra putting the pressure on, Cotric attempted to bring some physicality into the contest with a one-on-one tackle on Lafai.

But he was dumped on his head and Cotric was quickly the centre of the Dragons' attention – and the referees didn't waste time either as they sent off the Raiders star.

It marked the first send-off since Melbourne's Curtis Scott was dismissed in round 11 last year for punching Manly star Dylan Walker.

It was the first send-off for a dangerous throw since Peter Driscoll in 1995.

"It doesn't look good, he just gets himself in a bad position, Cotric," Broncos great Corey Parker said in commentary on Fox Sports.

"(He) upends him. First point of contact is the back of the neck."

Lafai got up soon after the tackle and continued to play.

With the traditional spear tackle a thing of the past in rugby league, Steve 'Blocker' Roach appeared to argue Cotric was perhaps unlucky to receive his marching orders.

"I don't think what really helped him there was the way he went on with the tackle," he said.

"I just don't think anyone deliberately goes out to do that sort of tackle. He just got in the wrong position there. Once you've got them up...

"A spear tackle really is when they used to spear their heads into the ground. That sort of flipped over. I don't think it was a spear tackle."

Roach’s viewpoints were echoed by Canberra coach Ricky Stuart.

"He's a young boy, no malice in the kid. My heart went out to him because I know how much he's hurting. He was asking me 'what's going to happen?'. He just wants to play footy. We'll fight it," Stuart said.

"There's been that much talk about foul play. (Parramatta forward Peni) Terepo two weeks ago breaks Jordan (Rapana's) nose and and nothing.

"Jarrod Croker makes a break into open space tonight, a chance to score a try and or a try assist and Ravalawa comes across and whacks him in in the head and nothing, but I lose a player (to HIA).

"I feel sorry for the officials who have to react to all this hype around cases of eye-gouging, whacks around the head, late hits, none of those blokes have been sent off, yet one of my guys get sent off.

"I just through it was very harsh."

The extra man did St George Illawarra no favours, however, as Canberra scored twice in the 10 minutes after the incident.

Siliva Havili crossed before Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad recorded his second try of the night to extend the visitors’ lead in an eventual 36-14 victory.

with AAP