With fellow bookend Addin Fonua-Blake already parked up for the evening and the sound of Des Hasler’s halftime explosion still ringing in his ears, the last thing Marty Taupau needed was lights out from a friendless loanee.
But as the rain tumbled down last Friday night, crack. There it was, with lightning-bolt venom.
Up by 16 points with 32 minutes on the clock, all the Warriors had to do was jab Manly with a fork, they were done.
But for reasons only known to Panther discard Jack Hetherington, the head-spinning prop upsized and levelled the Kiwi enforcer with an axe.
The chin-point shot not only opened the door for a Manly escape but sent those in the know scurrying for two important answers.
After several minutes of stargazing, Taupau answered the first. And with a slow departure, the stretcher remained dry.
A thousand hardy Lottoland souls answered the second before the first was asked.
Henry Perenara eventually blew the whistle on the cheapest shot of the season and Hetherington was first up the tunnel – for a ten-minute break.
In a bygone era, a full house Brookie would’ve exploded and complicated the firebrand’s departure up the competition’s most antiquated tunnel.
And with good reason, what else did Hetherington need to get sent off – an axeman’s hood?
The result is one thing, fair play another.
As it was, Manly’s ineptitude cost them in the end. But against 12 for the final 30 minutes, well, we’ll never know. And it’ll be little consolation to Hasler, when as expected, Graham Annesley admits Perenara got it wrong.
The match review committee have already said as much. The grade-three offence would normally result in a three-match ban but with the 24-year-old marksman’s poor record – the sixth charge in 22 games – his quiver could be empty for five weeks.
But whatever the suspension, in my book it’s not enough. A few weeks for a lazy outstretched arm, for sure, but this was a cold-hearted deliberate cheap shop.
(Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)
It was certainly no lazy arm playing catch-up for tired legs. Still fresh after the break, the tank was full. Both men held their line and kept their feet.
With the Warriors set to tackle Penrith the next week, and as per the loan agreement, Hetherington knew he wouldn’t be required – why not miss a week in style?
Fanciful, right?
Following impact, Hetherington’s hand went up before Taupau boarded the roller-coaster as if to acknowledge mission complete. It was English old-school, up there with Adrian Morley’s callus high shot on Robbie Kearns at Wigan in 2003.
On approach, Hetherington’s right arm rose above shoulder height ready to strike – the target anywhere from the shoulders up.
With Jared Waerea-Hargreaves a recent high-profile scalp, why not add another? Even if the suspension extends beyond the Panthers match. After all, the Warriors will have served their purpose by the time Penrith come calling before the finals.
None of which will make sense to Marty Taupau. But when he comes around, good luck to whoever lands the job trying to justify Hetherington’s ten-minute breather against the two weeks Wayne Bennett copped for entertaining his missus.
mushi
Roar Guru
We just need to be more trigger happy with it. Union seemingly seems to be able to do it without imploding. I'd rather a game where a guy was harshly sent for a high shot than one where a team loses a key player for limited penalty
Jason Hosken
Roar Guru
Do you reckon he had the excuse in his kitbag before kickoff?
DAVEC
Roar Rookie
well he will have an even better excuse not to face the panthers now
Albo
Roar Rookie
But not till he grows up !
Jason Hosken
Roar Guru
Handy bloke to have waiting in the wings.
Albo
Roar Rookie
He is just not learning these basic common sense facts, Barry. He is indeed a powerful and effective forward , and I thought the loan to the Warriors would be a great move for both Hetherington and the Panthers, giving him valuable match practice with a chance he could be ready to throw into a finals campaign in some form or due to injury in the squad. He has been a major contributor to the Warriors improved recent form playing up to 80 minutes in matches. But he now has a large 'carry over" target on his back and as a Panther selector you would be mad to risk playing him in any important match this year for fear of leaving your team short in a finals match. Until he learns the limits of playing with some controlled aggression , he is too much of a risk to play in a Panthers finals campaign.
Jason Hosken
Roar Guru
Yeah, the Panthers game is part of the suspension.
Jason Hosken
Roar Guru
I see your point Baz, just not sure it fits the crime assuming a send off is warranted. It’s not uncommon for coaches to finish a game without using the #17, so question whether it’s a light tax. On the other hand, in the past few years plenty of teams have out scored the opposition despite having a man in the bin.
The Barry
Roar Guru
I disagree Jase... the current rules are almost tailor made for the cheap shot merchant theory With the head injury protocols, there’s a higher chance than ever that the target will be put out for the rest of the game and it’s almost impossible to be sent off Having the offending player removed from the game and their team down to 16 and losing an interchange is more of a deterrent than what’s in place currently
Jason Hosken
Roar Guru
I like the theory but in practice it’s another can of worms. Cheap shot merchants selected to sacrifice themselves for the scalp of a key opponent. Even if that sounds fanciful there will always be uncomfortable elements of doubt and rage.
WarHorse
Roar Rookie
Deliberate foul play that results in an opposition player having to leave the field should ALWAYS be a send off. Nothing short of this. An eye for an eye.
Skidmarx
Guest
The NRL are the champions of hypocrisy and are like a person trying to suffocate themselves with a pillow. They ban the biff , and claim that any striking will result in a send off , yet allow head highs , coat hangers, king hits , and blatant dangerous trips to continue undeterred. Add to that , some of the worst officiating I’ve even seen , and you certainly have a foul tasting recipe for discontent among fans.
The Barry
Roar Guru
*of the 80s
Tony
Roar Guru
Agree Paul - if the offence is serious enough, send the player off. Another correspondent yesterday mentioned yellow cards and that would be worth considering. Yellow card = 10 minutes. Second yellow in a game = off. Plus there could be an automatic suspension for players who accumulate say three yellows over multiple games.
The Barry
Roar Guru
I agree with this Keep it as 13 on 13 but the offending team loses a player for the game and an interchange That was a bad shot...we saw Ford doing a soccer style slide tackle on Keary in Friday... even Lachlan Lewis’ tackle on Munster yesterday was a bit ordinary I’ve made this point before but in the Wild West anything goes days I’ve the 80s, these sort of tackles saw players getting matched. We’ve supposedly got a cleaner and safer game now but players ‘get away’ with these sort of hits
Paul
Roar Guru
I think players have certainly cleaned up their acts BD, but you're right, 2 sendoffs in 500 games for the angels who play in the NRL doesn't seem right. Now we'll most likely see 4 in 2 weeks.
Paul
Roar Guru
You're right Barry, but that's pretty sad because it means an important rule, ie the send off, is not being enforced. I've no issues with things like scrum feeds breaking the laws of the game but the send off usually gets a mention because of a player safety issue. Ignoring it during a game is sending the wrong messages to players, IMO.
Big Daddy
Guest
Last year Cotric was sent off. 2018 it was Curtis Scott, so we can expect 1 this year. 2 in over 500 matches it's hard to believe.
Jason Hosken
Roar Guru
Happy golfing, kk. As souvalis points out below, Marty is certainly no angel but what struck me about Friday nights shot was how deliberate it looked. In real time from the Arko stand it looked premeditated right to giving himself up. Subsequent replays do little to sway my opinion. Hetherington's a cracking player but he should've continued up the tunnel and onto the bus last Friday night.
kk
Roar Pro
Good one, Jason. Hopefully that was a first and last for Manly. When a head high hits the GGoA loses the votes of parents, grand parents and relatives (still viewing) who will steer the children to other sports. Another big concern is that if enough headmasters in association with doctors influence Rugby League to be eliminated from the school sports curriculum, due mainly to fear of head injuries. Head high tackles in the big time serve only as ammunition, especially if copied by schoolboys. Heavy fines as well as suspension is the only way for this curse to be eradicated. Every player knows the HH wrong. There are no excuses. Silly boy Lachlan Lewis.