Dolphins enforcer Felise Kaufusi was left bemused after he was penalised for “tackling too hard” in the first half of his side’s 38-10 win over the Sharks.
In the 13th minute, Kaufusi put a heavy hit on Samuel Stonestreet – the Sharks winger’s head snapping back after the contact.
The action was enough for referee Gerard Sutton to immediately blow the whistle and rule a high shot.
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Kaufusi stood up gesturing to the top of his chest as he tried to point out the contact was not to his shoulder, and Dolphins skipper Isaiya Katoa tried to challenge the call, but was told by Sutton he did not hear his calls, and the time had expired.
Felise Kaufusi was left bemused after he was penalised for a high shot on Samuel Stonestreet. FOX Sports
Replays appeared to show while the tackle was hard, there was no contact to the head. The severity of the whip lash might have contributed to Sutton’s decision to blow the whistle.
“I don’t think there’s anything wrong with that tackle,” Mick Ennis said in commentary for Fox Sports as replays were shown.
Lead caller Andrew Voss agreed, and pointed out Kaufusi would know better than most what a high shot looks like.
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“I say this with tongue in cheek, Felise knows what a high tackle is … and he knew that wasn’t one,” he said in reference to Kaufusi’s extensive rap sheet.
At half time, former Roosters enforcer Jared Waerea-Hargreaves – another man well-versed in high tackle charges – was bemused by the penalty.
“I can’t believe he got penalised for tackling too hard,” he said.
Stonestreet shrugged off the hit, but it was a sign of things to come for the Sharks, who were outplayed for much of the match and eventually went down 26-10.
The first points came in the 20th minute through Jake Averillo, at which point fatigue was already playing a factor in the clash.
There had been barely any stoppages, and at one point Nico Hynes was forced to take a hit-up because none of his big men were remotely on-side.
Stonestreet levelled the scores later in the half, before tries to Jamayne Isaako and Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow gave the Phins a 16-4 lead at the break.
Braydon Trindall looked as if he might get the Sharks back into the game when he scored early in the second half, but it was not to be. Three Dolphins tries in the last six minutes inflated the score somewhat to run out 38-10 winners.