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The 'Hopoate' tackle: what exactly is Glenn Lazarus threatening to do to Tony Abbott? The 'Hopoate' tackle: what exactly is Glenn Lazarus threatening to do to Tony Abbott?
(35 minutes later)
The Queensland senator and former rugby league great Glenn Lazarus has threatened to give Tony Abbott a “John Hopoate tackle” unless the prime minister heeds community concerns about coal seam gas.The Queensland senator and former rugby league great Glenn Lazarus has threatened to give Tony Abbott a “John Hopoate tackle” unless the prime minister heeds community concerns about coal seam gas.
The former Palmer United party member leant on his knowledge of league’s dark arts at a CSG protest in Queensland to list a host of other shocking techniques he was also prepared to use on Abbott to get his attention. The former Palmer United party member, affectionately known as the brick with eyes, leant on his knowledge of league’s dark arts at a CSG protest in Queensland to list a host of other shocking techniques he was also prepared to use on Abbott to get his attention.
It’s fairly safe to say – even considering the notoriously brutal world of Australian politics – that none of them has ever been used by one serving parliamentarian on another, let alone on the prime minister of the day.It’s fairly safe to say – even considering the notoriously brutal world of Australian politics – that none of them has ever been used by one serving parliamentarian on another, let alone on the prime minister of the day.
“I threatened Tony Abbott to shirtfront him about this issue,” Lazarus said. “I’m so determined to give these people a voice and to have Tony Abbott and his government go and see for themselves exactly what these people are going through, which I think [is] very unAustralian, I am prepared to go and squirrel grip, squirrel grip the prime minister.“I threatened Tony Abbott to shirtfront him about this issue,” Lazarus said. “I’m so determined to give these people a voice and to have Tony Abbott and his government go and see for themselves exactly what these people are going through, which I think [is] very unAustralian, I am prepared to go and squirrel grip, squirrel grip the prime minister.
“If that doesn’t work I’ve got other things up my sleeves such as the grapple tackle, the chicken wing and even the crusher tackle.“If that doesn’t work I’ve got other things up my sleeves such as the grapple tackle, the chicken wing and even the crusher tackle.
“If that doesn’t work I’m prepared to use the Hopoate tackles.”“If that doesn’t work I’m prepared to use the Hopoate tackles.”
Rugby league fans salivating at the prospect of this week’s State of Origin’s deciding game three will be all too aware of the deeply dreadful nature of Lazarus’s threats. For others, here is a brief a guide to the unsavoury tactics the former New South Wales player is threatening the PM with.Rugby league fans salivating at the prospect of this week’s State of Origin’s deciding game three will be all too aware of the deeply dreadful nature of Lazarus’s threats. For others, here is a brief a guide to the unsavoury tactics the former New South Wales player is threatening the PM with.
1. John Hopoate tackle1. John Hopoate tackle
The Tonga-born player achieved notoriety by inserting his finger into the anuses of three North Queensland Cowboys players during tackles. He told a disciplinary panel he was giving them a wedgie. The players disagreed.The Tonga-born player achieved notoriety by inserting his finger into the anuses of three North Queensland Cowboys players during tackles. He told a disciplinary panel he was giving them a wedgie. The players disagreed.
2. Squirrel grip2. Squirrel grip
A frowned-upon but timeworn method of riling the opposition that involves grabbing the testicles of a player during the tackle, sometimes with a little bit of twisting. Understandably effective in causing them to lose focus.A frowned-upon but timeworn method of riling the opposition that involves grabbing the testicles of a player during the tackle, sometimes with a little bit of twisting. Understandably effective in causing them to lose focus.
3. Grapple3. Grapple
A tackle once particularly associated with the Melbourne Storm team, this move involves applying pressure to a player’s neck. It can in theory lead to a loss of consciousness and the Sydney Morning Herald has referred to it as “a matter of life and death”. It seems unlikely Lazarus would go quite this far.A tackle once particularly associated with the Melbourne Storm team, this move involves applying pressure to a player’s neck. It can in theory lead to a loss of consciousness and the Sydney Morning Herald has referred to it as “a matter of life and death”. It seems unlikely Lazarus would go quite this far.
4. Chicken wing4. Chicken wing
This euphemistically named move is classified broadly by the National Rugby League as dangerous contact in which players try to bend or twist limbs in such a way that causes an “unacceptable risk of injury”. Think joints popping out of sockets.This euphemistically named move is classified broadly by the National Rugby League as dangerous contact in which players try to bend or twist limbs in such a way that causes an “unacceptable risk of injury”. Think joints popping out of sockets.
5. Crusher5. Crusher
A slightly more recent development in which the head of the tackled player is forced forward onto the chest. It brings with it a risk of neck injury and there is little the tackled player can do to avoid it. Yes, Melbourne Storm have been accused of this too.A slightly more recent development in which the head of the tackled player is forced forward onto the chest. It brings with it a risk of neck injury and there is little the tackled player can do to avoid it. Yes, Melbourne Storm have been accused of this too.
6. Shirtfront6. Shirtfront
Thanks to Abbott, this term is already well known in political circles, although it is generally an Australian rules football rather than rugby league term. His inventive threat to shirtfront Russian president Vladimir Putin at the G20 in 2014 over the downing of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 even forced the Macquarie Dictionary to change its definition of the term.Thanks to Abbott, this term is already well known in political circles, although it is generally an Australian rules football rather than rugby league term. His inventive threat to shirtfront Russian president Vladimir Putin at the G20 in 2014 over the downing of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 even forced the Macquarie Dictionary to change its definition of the term.