The NRL is in damage control after the match review committee issued 17 charges but the on-field referees were reluctant to send players to the sin bin for foul play.
NRL head of football Graham Annesley has emailed all clubs warning them about roughhouse tactics and indicating that referees will not be so lenient in future.
“There were several incidents of foul play in round 4 where on-field action by match officials fell short of policy that has been in place for several seasons,” Annesley wrote in an email which had been leaked to NewsCorp.
“Of particular concern, on four occasions the sin bin was not used for incidents involving direct forceful contact with the head/neck of opponents.
“The lack of appropriate on-field action in these cases should not be seen as a precedent for future similar incidents.
“Match officials have been shown these incidents today to reinforce their errors in applying NRL policy, and clubs should expect the required standard to be implemented throughout the remainder of the season.”
Tigers star Jarome Luai will be unavailable for the Tigers’ reunion with former coach Michael Maguire at Suncorp Stadium on Saturday after he was slugged with a grade-two careless high tackle charge.
The Samoa international caught Warriors winger Ed Kosi flush on the cheek as he made a tackle midway through Sunday’s clash at Campbelltown Stadium.
Canterbury hooker Reed Mahoney was lucky to stay on the field against the Sharks on Saturday after pouncing on Dan Atkinson while he was on the ground, collecting him in the head.
Broncos forward Jordan Riki and Dolphins captain Tom Gilbert also whacked opponents high in their Friday night derby but despite being banned, they only copped a penalty on the field.
Annesley also warned the clubs that players who use their shoulder only in tackles also face sterner punishments.
“A further matter of concern so far this season has been an increased incidence of ‘shoulder to head ‘contact by defenders,” he added.
“This is a tackling technique issue that needs to be addressed, and players must lower their target area to avoid the risk of contact with the head/neck of opponents.”
Jarome Luai passes. (Photo by Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images)
Dragons condemn fan
St George Illawarra have issued a statement condemning an antisocial fan in the second concerning incident at Netstrata Jubilee Stadium in as many games.
The spectator reportedly called referee Peter Gough “a f—ing cheating” before adding a homophobic slur during the Dragons’ upset win over Melbourne.
He pointed the offender out to security who promptly ejected him from the venue.
“The Dragons are aware of an incident in the round four match at Jubilee Stadium in which a patron was ejected for using inappropriate language,” a club statement said.
“The club has notified the NRL integrity unit and will now work with all relevant parties on next steps. As always, the Dragons condemn the use of abusive or discriminatory language or any other behaviour that makes anyone at our games feel unsafe.”
It is the second incident at Kogarah this season after a rogue spectator who thought it would be funny to be filmed buying a pie and then throwing it at a group of Dogs supporters on the hill in Round 1.
The footage was circulated on social media. In the clip, which was initially posted on TikTok, he is seen purchasing the pie with a friend and asking “would that look good on a Bulldogs supporter?”.
He then lobs it into a group of fans as they watched the game and cowardly runs away. An irate Canterbury fan is also shown as he displays the mess it made on his jersey and police are then seen talking to the fan who allegedly threw the pie.
The NRL has issued a notice of intention to ban the alleged pie thrower under the spectator code of conduct.
A 26-year-old man was issued a court attendance notice for common assault and behave in an offensive manner in a public place and will appear in Sutherland Local Court on April 15.
with AAP
