Canberra Raiders forward Allan Tounge was today fuming after the NRL match review committee cleared Cronulla Sharks player Misi Taulapapa of any wrong doing; after the Sharks flanker hurled himself at Tounge while the Raiders captain attempted a tackle on a ball carrying player.
It was a bizzare situation and many felt Misi Taulapapa would be charged today after video footage was reviewed.
Allan Tounge feels he is a victim due to the fact he is a low profile player, playing for a regional club.
“Imagine if it was Brett Kimmorley and I came in and busted him and he was out for the rest of the game and we came back and won the game, imagine how much (Cronulla coach) Ricky Stuart would be blowing up,†Tongue said.
“I’m not as influential in the game as someone like a Kimmorley.
“Imagine if someone came out … when it’s so close with the top eight, and took out another side’s main playmaker, I definitely think there’d be people jumping up and down.
Tounge raises a very valid point, this kind of bizzare interference could be used by a team to directly or intentionally hurt an opposition player. Consider the likes of Israel Folau or Justin Hodges targeted in a semi-final, or a half-back such as Matt Orford or Cooper Cronk being attacked by player totally independant of the ball carrier?
A physical clash could put the player out for the match and the culprit is free to play the rest of the game and the following week.
Any prowler type tackle in the NRL should be outlawed, there were a few in the Storm/Eels game on the weekend by both sides. Ball carriers were being held up by two tacklers and a third tackler was chopping legs and lower body in a dangerous fashion.
This latest unique method by Misi Taulapapa should have been stamped out quickly by the review committee, now it’s been let go – will Cronulla and other teams try to use it to their advantage?
It’s ‘Tongue’ money, not Tounge. Actually everyone can call him PM Tongue!!! LOL