Andrew Johns has blown up over Latu Fainu’s controversial sin bin during the Tigers′ loss to the Bulldogs on Saturday night, which resulted in a two-game ban.
Fainu was given his marching orders for a dangerous tackle on Leo Thompson, which saw the Canterbury prop land in an awkward position.
Latu Fainu’s tackle on Leo Thompson. Nine
The young utility dove low at Thompson’s legs and flipped him over, but never grabbed or lifted the Kiwi enforcer in the tackle.
The incident drew the ire of Johns, who was left in disbelief and vented his clear frustration during Nine’s Sunday Footy Show prior to Fainu being charged with grade three dangerous contact and facing a fortnight on the sideline.
“We’re so paranoid about hitting players in the head now,” the Immortal said.
“It looks awkward, he goes low and makes the tackle low and unfortunately, Leo Thompson gets in a bit of a dangerous position. What’s he done wrong? He’s done nothing wrong … you can’t take accidents out of the game.
“Go back and have a look at Trevor Gillmeister, he used to fold people in half – he hit them low like that and cut them in half.
“No penalty whatsoever, honestly. You can’t tackle high in case you chin them, but you can’t go below the knees now, so where are you supposed to hit them? Not even a penalty for mine, you can’t take the accidents out of the game.”
Johns got into a heated debate with co-panellists Billy Slater and Brad Fittler, who were leaning towards the referee for deciding to bin Fainu.
“The only thing technically that he has done wrong is wrap his arms,” Slater said.
“The look on his face, he knows he got that tackle wrong. There’s an argument both ways, but I think they got the decision right.”
Fittler took aim at Fainu’s tackle technique in the awkward moment.
“He got it so wrong, he just launched himself. The reason he got binned is because he got it wrong and the bloke landed on his head,” the Roosters legend said.
To make matters worse, Adam Doueihi will miss one game through suspension after being charged with a grade two careless high tackle on Harry Hayes.
Alex Twal escaped with an $1800 fine for slapping Jaeman Salmon during the loss.