海豚队主教练克里斯蒂安·伍尔夫警告称，球队明星中锋赫比·法恩沃思在近期遭到至少五次髋关节下压式防守铲球，这种被认为是NRL中最危险的铲球方式正对其造成威胁[1]。伍尔夫呼吁NRL加强对这类防守的监管，表示"赫比是我们联赛中的顶级球员之一，这些铲球中的任何一次终将酿成严重伤害，只是时间问题"[1]。
第18轮纽卡斯尔球员在短短六分钟内对法恩沃思进行了两次铲球，但均未遭到处罚[1]。对比之下，上周六海豚队以40比32战胜布里斯班的比赛中，球员科托尼·斯塔格斯在第47分钟因对法恩沃思实施髋关节下压式铲球而被处罚[1]。伍尔夫表示，如果裁判继续对这类危险防守视而不见，法恩沃思将面临严重受伤的风险，可能无法参加季后赛[1]。
现年26岁的法恩沃思传言将于11月1日进入自由市场，计划在2028赛季加入悉尼罗斯特队[1]。
Dolphins head coach Kristian Woolf has called on the National Rugby League to intervene and protect star centre Herbie Farnworth, who he says has been subjected to at least five hip-drop style tackles in recent weeks [1]. Woolf expressed concern that without stricter enforcement by referees, the 26-year-old player faces a significant risk of serious injury that could sideline him from finals football [1]. "Herbie is one of the elite players in our competition, and it's only a matter of time before one of those tackles ends badly and he suffers a serious injury," Woolf stated [1].
The issue came to a head when Newcastle players executed two tackles on Farnworth within six minutes during Round 18, neither of which drew a penalty [1]. In a more recent match on Saturday, Kotoni Staggs was penalized in the 47th minute for a hip-drop tackle on Farnworth during the Dolphins' 40-32 victory over Brisbane [1]. Farnworth is set to enter the free agency market on November 1 and is scheduled to join the Sydney Roosters in the 2028 season [1].