NRL greats have slammed the soft one-game ban handed to South Sydney prop Jeff Lima for the ugly leg twist on Manly back-rower Anthony Watmough.
The Rabbitohs wasted little time in pleading guilty to the grade two dangerous contact charge, for an act rugby league Immortal Andrew Johns described as “a deliberate act to try and maim and hurt an opposition player who’s helpless.”
Lima attracted widespread condemnation for his attack on Watmough, who made an unexpected return to face the Rabbitohs after hyper-extending his knee a week earlier against the Warriors.
Speaking on Sydney Radio station Triple M, Johns and fellow rugby league great Peter Sterling said the former Kiwi Test representative got off lightly over an incident Manly coach Geoff Toovey described as suspicious.
“I’d be buying a lottery ticket if I was Jeff Lima,” Sterling said.
“… the leg only twisted because Jeff Lima twisted it, not because the tackle was actually turning and he went with it.
“That to me made him guilty of a very, very nasty incident.”
Wrestling tactics have become more and more prevalent in the game in recent times, with the twisting of arms, legs and even heads a feature of many tackles.
Johns, who is an assistant coach with the Sea Eagles, claimed Lima’s tackle went against the spirit of the game.
“It’s a cheap shot,” Johns said.
“(Former leading referee) Bill Harrigan said he should get ten weeks.
“It would stop guys coming in and yanking at legs.”
The Rabbitohs had until midday on Wednesday to decide whether to cop the one-week ban or risk an extra match by contesting the charge at the NRL judiciary.
Instead they took just a few hours to make the call that will rule Lima out of Friday’s blockbuster clash against Canterbury.
It further depletes a Rabbitohs pack already missing Sam Burgess, who is serving the last week of his two-match ban for his squirrel grip on Melbourne’s Will Chambers.
While many former players called for a longer ban for Lima, the grade two charge was the same handed to Canterbury centre Krisnan Inu for his `scorpian’ tackle on Newcastle’s James McManus in round 10.
While Watmough finished Friday night’s match – which the Rabbitohs won 22-10 – Toovey said he remained in doubt for Sunday’s trip to Canberra.
There was some good news for the Sea Eagles with winger Jorge Taufua cleared over his hit on Souths hooker Isaac Luke.
Replays seemed to suggest Taufua hit Luke with a shoulder charge, but the match review committee claimed the winger was attempting to make a tackle in collecting the Rabbitohs No.9.
mushi
Guest
I think you can only sue if it you couldn't reasonably expect the behavior to occur. As the post before say's, it's not completely uncommon so it would be difficult to say it was unexpected.
mushi
Guest
Jim I think your joke is even better because some of the more "challenged" manly fans don't get it.
81paling
Roar Rookie
Another storm in a tea cup, get on with the game, nothing to see here.
Jim
Guest
So I guess hasler and tooooves must be very proud of their star pupil mattai. Also I reckon watmough is vulnerable because all the roids in his system have weakened his ligaments. Once ASADA have finished with the sharks the refs will be the least of the sea pigeons worries.
des right hand
Guest
It's coached like inglis diving in those so called spear tackles.. he leans forward and jumps with the leg on the ground. Josh reynolds learnt it from him Gus Gould has mentioned it more than once of inglis doesn't want you to lift his leg you won't he is that strong. And as proved by him again he will stay down to get a penalty. Dirty tactics from ex Melbourne everything what else would you expect?
Muzza
Guest
The grading committee and judiciary are kidding themselves. I reckon Greg Inglis would be dirty because as I recall he got 5 weeks for a mistimed shoulder charge. That is far less callous than a deliberate leg twist that could potentially end a career. I also recall Steve Matai getting a week for a high tackle on Burgess that bounced up off the ball. How can these two attract the same penalty. Where's the consistency? No wonder the NRL are a laughing stock at the moment.
des right hand
Guest
Never speak again jimmy boy
Shag On A Rock
Guest
Souths have got to get the deviate and cowardly stuff out of their game.
jack c
Guest
not only do they get the 50/50 calls every game now the grubs get all the 50/50 calls at the match review
Pot Stirrer
Guest
There is no pausible explanation for what Lima did, except to intentionaly cuase injury. Forget Watmough was carrying an injury that could have cuased a serious knee njury to anyone and its a disgrace that Souths condone it. What kind of Club are they,Burgess the week before followed by this. Whats in store for thier next opponents ?
Maroon Blood
Guest
Should not have been banned? You are kidding right? Otherwise, uppercuts to self.....begin!!
Pot Stirrer
Guest
Did you even see it ?
up in the north
Guest
I hope you're right Koomz, about one of the Qld teams. I'd like to believe it will happen based on merit though, and not on shonky calls by refs seeking to influence the outcome of the season. The cynic in me says, hmm possible.
mushi
Guest
I think he's having a dig at Manly's defense for dumping Inglis on his head a few times
The Koomz
Guest
Star players being targeted? What about the Horo tackle on Inglis? or the Cronk "potential" sinbing? The game is rigged! This was the worst refereeing weekend this season. Price and Furner should have followed Toovey and given the refs a piece of their minds. The Warrors, Raiders and Knights will sadly have their seasons being determined by the refs. It wont be surprising to see a Queensland team replacing one of the 3 in September.
Roarsome
Guest
Isn't that where the game is heading though? When was the last time the NRL took a consistent hardline on anything, except the overreaction we got to the shoulder charge or a little biff? There's nothing i would have like to have seen more than Lima get smashed legally or perhaps a little illegal retribution on the field but players aren't allowed to do that anymore because the refs have the game 'under control'. That's the standard they set and given the wrestle we see in most tackles each week that is now part of the game, 1 week is fair.
Shag On A Rock
Guest
Yep, the League has a duty of care, but the player can be sued individually, too. Jack sued Roberts. Rogers sued Bugden. No reason why Watmough couldn't sue Lima. My guess is that the consequence of the NRL's weak response to the Burgess sexual assault and the Lima deathroll will be that other teams will adopt the vile tactics that the Rabbits got away with. The knees and genitals of Inglis, Reynolds, and Burgess are now on the table to attack. Only a week's suspension to get those stars out of the game will be too much to resist. Reap what they sow.
up in the north
Guest
These types of tackling techniques have been occuring for years now. They are against the rules. The onus is on the officials to enforce said rules. I'm no lawyer, but I wonder if a players career is cut short by an illegal tackle, and officialdom did not impose a suitable penalty upon the miscreant, would the injured player have a civil case against the NRL for failure in their duty of care by not enforcing the rules? Just thinking out loud.
Shag On A Rock
Guest
I get it. Watmough was doing a pirouette trying to twist Lima's hands out of their joints. Thanks for setting us straight, Jim.
NSWelshman
Guest
lolol a dirtier player.........how about Burgess & Lima????