McCracken spear tackle victim
angered at court case

A victim on the receiving end of a Jarrod McCracken spear tackle in a rugby league match has condemned the former Kiwis enforcer's successful legal bid for compensation following a career-ending hit which left him in a neck brace.

McCracken was last week successful in suing the Melbourne Storm plus former teammates Stephen Kearney and Marcus Bai for damages after the New South Wales Supreme court ruled a neck injury caused by a spear tackle effectively ended his National Rugby League (NRL) career with the Wests Tigers in 2000.

Now a successful North Queensland property developer, McCracken stands to be awarded at least $A750,000 ($NZ825,720) by the club's insurers when damages are determined at a hearing in August.

The verdict sent shockwaves through the league community with player's fearing they could be liable for injuries caused by dangerous play.

A legislation change after the case began essentially protects players but former Manly star Tony Mestrov is still unimpressed with the New Zealander's landmark court victory.

Mestrov was on the bussiness end of a McCracken spear tackle in 1992 which saw the abrasive second rower suspended for seven matches.

He never contemplated taking legal action and claims McCracken broke the code's "golden rule" by taking his case to court.

"I'm a believer in what happens on the field should stay on the field," Mestrov told the League Correspondent.

"We've all done things we've regretted on the field. But I believe you don't go out to intentionally maim or hurt another player and I think it should stay on the field.

"It's that old golden rule passed down in rugby league through time and I think that's the way it should be.

"This has been a real talking point and it may open a can of worms initially, but I'm sure the rugby league community has the same view as me."

Mestrov said he felt for Kearney and Bai.

"I just think there was no intent - you don't go out to maim an individual. I think it was a misjudgment.

"Everyone in the game knows you've got to try and get players on their back to slow the tackle down and that's what I think the player has in mind."

However, David Penna, McCracken's one-time teammate at Parramatta endorsed the legal action.

"I think it's great for Jarrod, Penna said.

"It's a good standard for the game, sometimes people don't see that just one spur-of-the-moment thing on the field can change a person's life altogether.

"It's not a personal attack on other players, but you have to be responsible for your actions."

Penna quit the game in 2000 in almost identical fashion to McCracken, after being hit high by then Sharks forward Andrew Pierce.

The tackle aggravated a serious neck injury. "Jarrod is not greedy. This tackle happened four or five years ago and in that time 'Crackers' has worked hard to be successful.

"It's got nothing to do with what he's already got in the bank, he had his career ended prematurely and it's shattering when it's your livelihood."