Phil McCracken sues over career-ending tackle

[Funniest Nick of the Year]

McCracken sues over career-ending tackle
February 14, 2005 - 7:13PM

Former rugby league international Jarrod McCracken is suing the Melbourne
Storm club and two of its players, saying they destroyed his career with a
spear tackle.

McCracken injured his spine and neck when he was tackled during a National
Rugby League (NRL) game between his team, Wests Tigers, and the Melbourne
Storm on May 12, 2000.

McCracken said the injuries ended his first grade rugby league career.

The hearing began on Monday in the NSW Supreme Court.

The former New Zealand captain is suing Melbourne Storm and the players who
tackled him, Stephen Kearney and Marcus Bai, for more than $750,000 damages.

McCracken says the tackle was "intentional" and "done with intent to cause
injury".

At the time of the incident, McCracken was on a two-year contract for the
2000 and 2001 seasons on a fee of $300,000 a year.

"By reason of the injuries sustained in the subject tackle, the plaintiff
was prevented from returning to playing professional rugby league football
and his employer, Wests Tigers, terminated its playing contract with the
plaintiff," according to his statement of claim, tendered to the court.

McCracken also said he would have continued his professional rugby league
career, either in England or the NRL, if he had not been injured.

The loss of his career also caused McCracken to suffer from depression, the
court was told.

The hearing continues on Tuesday.

AAP

[boonarga]

Funniest Nick of the Year wrote in
news:42108d72$0$2672$afc3...@news.optusnet.com.au:

> McCracken sues over career-ending tackle
> February 14, 2005 - 7:13PM
>

I hope he wins. There is no excuse for tackles like that. When it starts
costing people and clubs through the hip pocket they might think about
changing tackling style.

[Yossarian]

I was at that game. It was 0-0 when he went off at close at half time and
then the Tigers got steamrollered in the 2nd half. IIRC they were coming 2nd
at the time.

[David Male]

On Wed, 16 Feb 2005 00:16:13 GMT, boonarga <sp...@hotmail.com> wrote:

Fixed up to make sense...

>When it starts
>costing people and clubs through the hip pocket they might think about changing the players contracts to prevent
>them from suing OR they may simply quit and then we have no football..............My money is on the latter.
>is anyone seriously going to be involved in some red neck regional game where at the slightest injury, the club workers
> and promotors get sued????????????

McCraken was always akin to Jeff's arse anyway...........how many
players did he deliberately hurt???