Legends clash over 'cheapest shot in the game'

1 year ago 59

Rugby league greats Andrew Johns and Billy Slater person clashed implicit the punishment handed down to Dolphins hitman Felise Kaufusi.

Kaufusi tin judge a three-game ban, oregon combat it and hazard four, for a people 2 unsafe interaction complaint stemming from a brutal deed connected Newcastle playmaker Jackson Hastings.

Kaufusi rushed retired of the antiaircraft enactment connected Friday nighttime to level Hastings, but was sin-binned for collecting the Knights subordinate precocious and successful the back.

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"I tin really find grounds for Felise to combat that (charge)," Slater told Wide World of Sports' Sunday Footy Show.

"I deliberation helium pulled retired of it late, and erstwhile the shot near Jackson's hands helium (Kaufusi) was committed."

Dolphins prima Felise Kaufusi has been handed a 3 lucifer prohibition for this deed connected Knights halfback Jackson Hastings (Fox League)

But Slater's comments were not received good by Johns, who thought the punishment was insufficient.

"It's the cheapest changeable successful the game," Johns said.

"Hitting blokes successful the backmost aft they've passed the ball."

Slater pointed retired Kaufusi had been lauded for a fig of large shots successful caller weeks, which kickstarted a back-and-forth betwixt helium and Johns.

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"But the shot was successful their hands, erstwhile helium deed Brandon (Smith) and Hudson Young... (when helium deed Hastings) the shot was 4 oregon 5 metres retired of his hands," Johns said.

"It's the cheapest changeable successful the game. If you privation to smash idiosyncratic successful the back, springiness distant 20 kilos to a bloke and smash them successful the back... they are coached to bash it, I perceive it astatine nine level.

Kaufusi misdeed binned implicit brutal Hastings hit

"The backrower has got to get retired and enactment unit connected the half, marque him play early.

"When the shot goes you can't conscionable smash blokes successful the backmost erstwhile he's not adjacent looking. Someone is going to get earnestly injured."

Slater, though, is adamant Kaufusi could bushed the complaint astatine the judiciary.

"I hold that was fractionally late, and I'm not for that play," helium said.

"But if you look astatine the dilatory motion, erstwhile Felise commits to the tackle helium is committed erstwhile the shot is successful (Hastings') hands."

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