Melbourne skipper Cameron Smith appears unlikely to miss game time due to his slap on Parramatta’s Reed Mahoney.
Melbourne skipper Cameron Smith has denied he was trying to slap Reed Mahoney in the face as he gets set to learn his fate over his skirmish with the Parramatta hooker.
The NRL match review committee will scrutinise the incident in the first-half of the Storm’s 32-0 semi-final win which saw Smith sin-binned for just the second time in his career.
After Mahoney held onto Smith’s jumper, the Storm veteran struck out several times before landing a blow on the young Eels No.9’s head.
Smith said he had no issue with being marched for 10 minutes but insisted he had no malicious intent.
“Absolutely not,” Smith said when asked if he was trying to strike his fellow Queenslander.
“Reed had a really good hold of me after I kicked the ball and he wouldn’t let go.
“I missed the mark and clipped him high. It wasn’t intentional. But the ruling was that I got him. It’s a consistent ruling with what happened last night so I’m happy with that.”
Smith appears unlikely to be rubbed out given South Sydney’s Cody Walker escaped with a fine for a similar slap on Manly’s Jack Gosiewski on Friday night.
Walker was charged with contrary conduct and if Smith is hit with the same charge he’ll be free to play.
The only chance of him missing next Saturday’s preliminary final against the Sydney Roosters is if he is charged with striking.
Mahoney said he didn’t even realise he had been struck by Smith.
“I didn’t really feel it, I just got up and it was a penalty,” Mahoney said.
“We had a good laugh at the end.”
Mahoney, who grew up on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast, says he idolised Smith growing up and was trying to inspire his side by niggling the Storm legend.
“I just held on to him a bit longer and he didn’t like it,” Mahoney said.
“We’re all good, we had a laugh at the end of it – that’s footy.
“I’ve got a lot of respect for Cam Smith, he’s done everything in the game.”
Parramatta pair Kane Evans and Maika Sivo will also come under scrutiny for shoulder charges in the same game.
Dogs Boddy
Roar Rookie
I disagree. The players have started slapping because closed fist punches are banned. We've seen a lot more headbutting as a result as well. If you want to stop something then you have to be hard line about it. Yes in this game this was nothing, it didn't hurt and wasn't meant to, but in the big scheme of things it's banned and must be dealt with accordingly. Both players were sent off, fair enough. Neither deserves a suspension because neither was a particularly aggressive act. The other issue of players hanging onto others without the ball needs further scrutiny.
Noosa Duck
Roar Rookie
fined, both he & Walker fined so was the Brad Parker Trip....but then again they have not been naughty boys during the season have they ....
Noosa Duck
Roar Rookie
yes very sad it is
Noosa Duck
Roar Rookie
Mummy ....mummy , Cameron slapped somebody .......naughty Cameron... A simple "break it up you two" , from the referee was all that was needed ....what an idiotic over-reaction, seriously!!! The referee's will be refereeing the grand final in Mandarin, for the hole they have dug for themselves this season must have reached China by now.
Papi Smurf
Roar Rookie
Neither Cam Smith or Cody Walker should have to face the judiciary over that. The sin-bin was already too much. A penalty and then a fine after the game is sufficient and leave it at that. As Forty Twenty says, too little is done to teams that hang on to the opposition when the ball is gone. It even happens during the play the ball with the attacking side trying to stop defenders rejoining the defensive line or getting back to marker. It needs to stop!
Papi Smurf
Roar Rookie
Fair point. There is NO excuse for the team in possession to hang onto a defender or for the defence to hang on to a player without the ball. In the Canterbury Cup semi-final Wenty scored a scrum try against the Rabbitohs after their front rower got away with hanging onto a defender trying to break from the scrum. Clear interference and it wasn't even looked at. Ridiculous!
Brendon
Roar Rookie
Unlikely BUT we all know how the MRC and committee are doing recently....Smith gone for a week? :P
Paul
Roar Guru
Maybe a fine and that should be it. More to the point, the NRL needs to tell the refs to stop guys hanging on as Reed did.
Vic Bitta
Guest
Son binning Referee Smith is like shooting Bambi. Suspension would be like shooting Mother Theresa. Remember Slater's non shoulder shoulder charge.
Forty Twenty
Roar Rookie
The bigger issue is players holding on to someone and entrapping them like Mahoney did. I'd prefer if the penalty went against Mahoney and put Smith on report if they want. The commentators said it's a growing trend to hang on to players and they are the ones who need to end up in the bin. What is Smith meant to do, just let Mahoney hang on to him as long as he likes? Any accidental slap to the head is not Smiths problem.