Brisbane Broncos dragged into storm over football player’s tragic death

[ZTop]

A CORONER has found the Brisbane Broncos should have done more to teach Francis Molo how to avoid shoulder charging opponents after causing the death of James Ackerman in a 2015 Queensland Cup match.
Ackerman was shoulder charged in the opening four minutes by Molo at Bishop Park, and died two days later in hospital, but the Broncos contracted player went on to twice repeat the illegal tackle on his return from suspension. Coroner John Lock said Molo made no attempt to apply a “legitimate” tackle on the 25-year-old prop and the force of the shoulder charge, which did not hit the head or neck, was such that it caused death.
He found the force of the contact was to the chest and upper body of Ackerman but the impact caused forceful movement to the head of the Sunshine Coast prop and ruptured an artery in his neck.
Molo, who was playing for Broncos feeder club Norths Devils, received a nine-week suspension for the grade five — the highest charge — illegal tackle. On returning to the playing field, he was twice suspended for shoulder charges in 2016, which had been banned by the Queensland Rugby League the season before.

Mr Lock said the Broncos should have done more to remedy Molo’s tackling technique.Source:News Corp Australia
Mr Lock said the Brisbane Broncos, in hindsight, were too concerned with Molo’s welfare after Ackerman’s death than addressing his tackling technique. He said the leading NRL club had the resources to do so and should have invested more in improving Molo’s technique given the subsequent incidents that could have also caused serious injuries.
“Given the tragic outcome, and then the following incidents involving shoulder charges, there should have been some thought, given the issue ... to discuss it more with Francis at an appropriate time,” he told the Brisbane Coroners Court.
Mr Lock also said police investigations into the death should have been more transparent but backed the decision not to lay criminal charges. He said after viewing the video, Molo was not going to “wrap” his arms around Ackerman, a father of two, in a legal tackle.
“He did not place himself in a position to wrap his arms,” said Mr Lock.
Ackerman’s wife Saraa and mother Sonya were in court to hear the coroner’s findings.

 

[PerthBrissy987]

Its not the clubs fault that molo has no idea how to tackle. It was his choice to use a shoulder charge and everyone knows the danger of doing that.

 

[Cult]

I bet the coroner is a lifelong LU member. Everything is the fault of the Broncos over there

 

[talanoa]

A CORONER has found the Brisbane Broncos should have done more to teach Francis Molo how to avoid shoulder charging opponents after causing the death of James Ackerman in a 2015 Queensland Cup match.
Ackerman was shoulder charged in the opening four minutes by Molo at Bishop Park, and died two days later in hospital, but the Broncos contracted player went on to twice repeat the illegal tackle on his return from suspension. Coroner John Lock said Molo made no attempt to apply a “legitimate” tackle on the 25-year-old prop and the force of the shoulder charge, which did not hit the head or neck, was such that it caused death.
He found the force of the contact was to the chest and upper body of Ackerman but the impact caused forceful movement to the head of the Sunshine Coast prop and ruptured an artery in his neck.
Molo, who was playing for Broncos feeder club Norths Devils, received a nine-week suspension for the grade five — the highest charge — illegal tackle. On returning to the playing field, he was twice suspended for shoulder charges in 2016, which had been banned by the Queensland Rugby League the season before.

Mr Lock said the Broncos should have done more to remedy Molo’s tackling technique.Source:News Corp Australia
Mr Lock said the Brisbane Broncos, in hindsight, were too concerned with Molo’s welfare after Ackerman’s death than addressing his tackling technique. He said the leading NRL club had the resources to do so and should have invested more in improving Molo’s technique given the subsequent incidents that could have also caused serious injuries.
“Given the tragic outcome, and then the following incidents involving shoulder charges, there should have been some thought, given the issue ... to discuss it more with Francis at an appropriate time,” he told the Brisbane Coroners Court.
Mr Lock also said police investigations into the death should have been more transparent but backed the decision not to lay criminal charges. He said after viewing the video, Molo was not going to “wrap” his arms around Ackerman, a father of two, in a legal tackle.
“He did not place himself in a position to wrap his arms,” said Mr Lock.
Ackerman’s wife Saraa and mother Sonya were in court to hear the coroner’s findings.

reading the coroners quotes would suggest to me that a silver tongue legal team preying on other peoples misery will be all over this in the search for a headline and cash grab!!!

 

[Allo]

Is a coroner even allowed to make such statements?

Adding to that, the way it’s worded in that there were two more instances and saying it was our fault for not changing his technique is also making it sound like we knew it was an issue before Ackerman’s death and we did nothing/didn’t care.

 

[Kyall]

We can’t help stupid.

 

[PerthBrissy987]

There could be a huge legal battle here between broncos and coroner for making false statements

 

[Accept]

There could be a huge legal battle here between broncos and coroner for making false statements

lol, nobody sues a coroner, these are just his findings. Nobody is being charged over it.

 

[Browny]

Coronors need to blame someone

 

[Foordy]

There could be a huge legal battle here between broncos and coroner for making false statements

Broncos wouldn't waste the money ... they would likely lose

 

[broncos4life]

A CORONER has found the Brisbane Broncos should have done more to teach Francis Molo how to avoid shoulder charging opponents after causing the death of James Ackerman in a 2015 Queensland Cup match.
Ackerman was shoulder charged in the opening four minutes by Molo at Bishop Park, and died two days later in hospital, but the Broncos contracted player went on to twice repeat the illegal tackle on his return from suspension. Coroner John Lock said Molo made no attempt to apply a “legitimate” tackle on the 25-year-old prop and the force of the shoulder charge, which did not hit the head or neck, was such that it caused death.
He found the force of the contact was to the chest and upper body of Ackerman but the impact caused forceful movement to the head of the Sunshine Coast prop and ruptured an artery in his neck.
Molo, who was playing for Broncos feeder club Norths Devils, received a nine-week suspension for the grade five — the highest charge — illegal tackle. On returning to the playing field, he was twice suspended for shoulder charges in 2016, which had been banned by the Queensland Rugby League the season before.

Mr Lock said the Broncos should have done more to remedy Molo’s tackling technique.Source:News Corp Australia
Mr Lock said the Brisbane Broncos, in hindsight, were too concerned with Molo’s welfare after Ackerman’s death than addressing his tackling technique. He said the leading NRL club had the resources to do so and should have invested more in improving Molo’s technique given the subsequent incidents that could have also caused serious injuries.
“Given the tragic outcome, and then the following incidents involving shoulder charges, there should have been some thought, given the issue ... to discuss it more with Francis at an appropriate time,” he told the Brisbane Coroners Court.
Mr Lock also said police investigations into the death should have been more transparent but backed the decision not to lay criminal charges. He said after viewing the video, Molo was not going to “wrap” his arms around Ackerman, a father of two, in a legal tackle.
“He did not place himself in a position to wrap his arms,” said Mr Lock.
Ackerman’s wife Saraa and mother Sonya were in court to hear the coroner’s findings.

The coroner can get fucked, what a sad ****.

 

[Art Vandelay]

Seriously? We were 'too concerned with Molo's welfare'? What an ignorant fucking thing to say from a guy who's presumably seen more suicides than the rest of us put together.

 

[Mitchell_Broncos]

He aint a Bronco anymore so put it in Cowboys hands haha even though he was a Broncos when it happened

 

[Manifesto]

Coroners cases are quite fascinating to read, Ackerman's case should be quite interesting. The public report hasn't been released on the website yet but probably will be soon. Coroners role are not to attribute blame, but to make recommendations to prevent the adverse outcome in the future. The coroner's quotes sound to me more like ways to avoid bad outcomes rather than blaming the broncos, but lets wait for the public report

 

[talanoa]

The coroner can get fucked, what a sad ****.

the shitty part too is the coroner is highly unlikely to have ever played the game as well at a high level or even at all. so how can he be 100% clear that there was no intention to wrap with the arms after impact!!!
its pretty damn ordinary what he has said, the way it reads is that the coroner is happy to lay the boot in and blame someone for a tragic accident - saying the club spent too much time on welfare made my piss boil!!! what an absolute vermon.
would he rather molo not get the welfare support and be swinging from a bridge somewhere

im fairly certain no club spends time at training learning the shoulder charge. the coroner seems like half a smug prick all righteous and mighty with his directed blame.

 

[Alec]

I love it how they can make whole articles out of literally two quotes.

 

[Jason Simmons]

Is a coroner even allowed to make such statements?

Adding to that, the way it’s worded in that there were two more instances and saying it was our fault for not changing his technique is also making it sound like we knew it was an issue before Ackerman’s death and we did nothing/didn’t care.

Yes. When acting in their capacity as Coroner (though it applies equally when acting as a normal Magistrate) they are legally protected from liability for absolutely anything they say or do.

 

[Jason Simmons]

There could be a huge legal battle here between broncos and coroner for making false statements

No there can’t. You cannot sue a Coroner. You could take legal action to have a higher court over-turn findings that shouldn’t have been made, but you cannot sue a Coroner or a Magistrate for things done in their official capacity.