Wests Tigers will be without Latu Fainu for three weeks after the NRL judiciary upheld a grade-three dangerous contact charge for a tackle on Bulldogs prop Leo Thompson that had several greats wondering what he’d done wrong.
Fainu upended Thompson into a dangerous position – beyond the horizontal – and was sent to the bin in the second half of his side’s 32-0 loss on Saturday.
Latu Fainu will miss three weeks for this tackle on Leo Thompson. Fox Sports
The young half dived low at Thompson’s legs and flipped him over, but never grabbed or lifted the Kiwi enforcer in the tackle. An early guilty plea carried a two-game ban.
On Tuesday night, defence counsel Nick Ghabar argued it was a normal tackle around the legs, the contact wasn’t dangerous or careless, and Thompson flipped because of an accidental series of events.
But NRL counsel Lachlan Gyles countered strongly, arguing the tackle was “horrendous and high risk”, which could have left him with a severe knee injury or even “broken his neck”.
The panel of Tony Puletua and Paul Simpkins upheld the ban, and then dismissed a subsequent bid for it to be reduced by a match because Gyles tendered evidence Fainu had previously been given two act notices warning him about similar tackles.
On Nine’s The Sunday Footy Show, Immortal Andrew Johns was furious Fainu had even been penalised, let alone charged and suspended.
“We’re so paranoid about hitting players in the head now,” he 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.
“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.”
Eels legend Nathan Hindmarsh was equally furious.
“This is ridiculous … that’s bullshit,” he said on Fox Sports’ Sunday Night with Matty Johns.
“I thought there was nothing wrong with that and to get two weeks for that? That is a joke. Absolute joke.
“We’re teaching our kids to go low and tackle like that. Obviously the wrapping motion helps, but that’s how we’re teaching our kids. A smaller guy on a bigger guy?
“Go low, wrap him up, done. And he’s getting two weeks for that just because he’s fallen over him.”
Fainu’s ban opens the door for Javon Andrews to make his debut against Canberra on Saturday. He was initially named at No.7, but will likely come off the bench after Adam Doueihi successfully had a one-game ban for a careless high tackle downgraded.
Doueihi was put on report for a high shot on Harry Hayes. His grade-two charge was downgraded to a $1000 fine, and he is free to play against the Raiders.
In the other judiciary case of the night, David Fifita was banned for two weeks after the Rabbitohs failed to have a dangerous contact charge downgraded.
David Fifita was suspended for two weeks for kicking out at Hudson Young. Fox Sports
Fifita kicked out at Canberra’s Hudson Young just after half-time, and made contact with his neck. Gyles argued the level of carelessness was high, particularly given Young had no way to protect himself.
The Rabbitohs – already without Cameron Murray, Tallis Duncan and Latrell Mitchell – will now also be without Fifita for this weekend’s clash with the Storm on Friday night, and the Sharks on Sunday week.