Dangerous tackle that earned Fainu a three-game ban was his third in two years
The Latu Fainu tackle that NRL lawyers say could have led to Leo Thompson “breaking his neck” was the third time in the last two seasons that the Wests Tigers playmaker had put an opposing player in a dangerous situation.
One to Fainu three match ban After being found guilty of dangerous contact in court on Tuesday night The decline continues against Thompson and flipping the Canterbury propeller into a vulnerable position.
While some commentators have questioned what Fainu did wrong, Tigers coach Benji Marshall admitted on Thursday the club needed to work on their half-back tackling technique, with his ban now clearing the way for a new game. rookie Javon Andrews He will make his debut in what is sure to be a competitive clash against Canberra on Saturday.
Although Fainu received public support for his tackle, the 21-year-old was penalized for his tackle on New Zealand Warriors prop Mitch Barnett in the fourth round last year. The tackle, which was penalized at the time, led to a melee and Fainu was subsequently issued a relevant action notice by the NRL.
Then against Canberra in round 26 last season, Fainu miscarried again, leaving Raiders center Simi Sasagi clinging on to his knee. Sisagi stood up and Fainu was not punished, but was given a second term on a movement warning.
The referee was heard telling angry Raiders players that the tackle was not a “cannonball”.
Andrew Johns said about Nine’s: Footy Show on Sunday On Fainu’s tackle on Thompson: “He didn’t do anything wrong, he tackled low. You can’t take accidents out of the game… it’s not even a penalty.”
“You can’t attack high because you’ll jaw them… and you can’t go down? Where are you supposed to hit them?”
Eel legend Nathan Hindmarsh further touched on the subject when he said: Sunday night with Matty Johns: “This is ridiculous. This is a joke.”
Judges Tony Puletua and Paul Simpkins were satisfied that Fainu’s tackle was dangerous and careless and that he “had every opportunity to make a conventional tackle but chose not to do so; the result left the player Thompson at risk of serious injury”.
The squad opening up following Fainu’s suspension means 19-year-old Andrews is expected to make his NRL debut following some impressive performances in the NSW Cup.
The last time the Tigers and Canberra metTigers fans mocked Viking cheers and launched a nasty “fuck Canberra” chant, while Sunia Turuva and Tom Starling were forced to leave after full-time work as the drama was captured on TV footage.
At the time, it was reported that a “snitch” sledgehammer had sparked the melee, apparently referring to Starling’s long-running court fight with police following an incident on the Central Coast.
Starling was accused of assaulting police at the end of 2020, but the charges were dropped and two police officers are now accused of assaulting Starling. While the couple pleaded not guilty, the matter was taken to court.
Tigers fan Fondia Pole was expecting a chilly reception on and off the field at GIO Stadium and remembered the full-time drama last time out.
“But I don’t see any of this as a negative, it’s part of the game, you show passion, you go on the field to win, the players on the other team become your opponents when you’re on the field, but when you leave the field everyone starts to respect each other,” Pole said.
“[As for the Canberra crowd]That’s how the game works, if you give you have to take. Hopefully, we’re not on the other side of this. “If we win and play well, they won’t make it.”
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