Taane Milne will be able to wipe out almost his entire six-match NRL ban at the World Cup after South Sydney were granted approval to count the tournament towards his suspension.
Milne was handed the mammoth punishment for his reckless high tackle on Penrith’s Spencer Leniu in the Rabbitohs’ preliminary-final loss last month.
The incident prompted a furious Leniu to attempt to continue the stoush on the sideline, after Milne was sent off for the hit late in the loss.
The winger’s ban was the harshest handed down for a high tackle in more than a year, dating back to Latrell Mitchell’s controversial suspension late in 2021.
But it will now only have a minimal impact on Souths.
(Photo by Brendon Thorne/Getty Images)
NRL judiciary chairman Geoff Bellew has approved an application for Milne’s first four games of the ban to be taken in Fiji’s World Cup campaign, after he played for the nation during the mid-year Tests.
That allowance takes into account the Bati’s warm-up game against England, as well as their group matches against Australia, Italy and Scotland.
As things stand, Milne will be able to return in round three of next year for the Rabbitohs.
If Fiji progress out of the group stage, Souths can apply to have the World Cup finals matches also counted as part of Milne’s ban.
In effect, it means that if the secondary application is approved and Fiji reach the semi-finals, Milne’s entire ban could be served at the World Cup.
Milne’s allowance comes after the NRL previously approved Jared Waerea-Hargreaves, Lindsay Collins and Jason Taumalolo to each serve bans in the World Cup.
Waerea-Hargraves will miss New Zealand’s first two matches of the tournament after already sitting out their warm-up game, while Taumalolo faces a similar situation for Tonga.
Collins will miss Australia’s opener against Fiji, after previously having the Prime Ministers’ XIII game counted towards his ban from the NRL season.
That trio’s allowances differed from Milne’s in that they were each named in their nation’s World Cup squads despite the suspensions.
In the case of Milne, his longer ban meant he was entirely overlooked by Fiji given he would only have been available for the final had the Bati qualified.
However, Bellew agreed with the Rabbitohs’ argument that the 27-year-old would have been picked if not for the suspension.
William W
Roar Rookie
Plenty of other players served suspensions during the World Cup. Get over it!
William W
Roar Rookie
He was... as a 36-man train-on-squad was selected, Milne was one of them. Get over it!
William W
Roar Rookie
Milne was selected in Fijis' initial 36-man squad and chosen before the Semis. He was only overlooked due to the number of weeks. Milne would have been selected for sure, NO RORT at all. Hargraves, Collins and Taumalolo were afforded to use WC games as suspension... Why NOT a Rabbitohs player? You, nobs, really need to get off your biased high horses. NRL judiciary chairman Geoff Bellew has approved an application for Milne’s first four games of the ban to be taken in Fiji’s World Cup campaign after he played for the nation during the mid-year Tests. Get over it losers! lol
Maxtruck
Roar Rookie
Born in Auckland, junior club Clovelly Crocodiles That's in Fiji ???
Geoff from Bruce Stadium
Roar Rookie
Milne did the crime in the NRL and should serve the time in the NRL. If he misses 6 matches at the beginning of next season it reflects badly on him and his club will be forced to consider whether to renew his contract in the future. The bloke should pay for his crimes. I just don't see sitting out World Cup games carrying the same sort of weight.
matth
Roar Guru
There has always been reciprocal arrangements on bans so as long as they are picked in their squads I have no problem with that. But to count games when you are t even in the squad is a joke.
Rich
Guest
I'm a Souths fan and I think this stinks. NRL bans should apply to NRL games. Having players rubbed out of rep games devalues those games, but also means the NRL are dictating who can and cannot play in games that fall under other governance structures (e.g. International RL). Having JWH and JT not available for those first couple of games is a big loss to those teams and the wider game.
Tim Carter
Roar Pro
Agree to disagree, but I can never see a world cup game as meaningless.
London Panther
Roar Rookie
Personally don’t have an issue with it. I think he is missing the chance to represent his country and family, which is a huge deal.
Geoff from Bruce Stadium
Roar Rookie
Disagree with this. Milne misses a few meaningless games in the World Cup when he should be sitting out NRL matches. Milne was binned twice for high shots against the Roosters followed by a horror hit on Spencer Leniu and he will only miss one NRL game. The decision absolutely stinks. As do the decisions to allow JWH, Collins and Taumololo to serve their suspensions in the World Cup in some meaningless early round World Cup mThces.
chris
Guest
The same South’s supporters are usually on here complaining about the non suspensions of players at other clubs & how some other clubs get special treatment. This is a huge rort & sees Milne get away virtually scot free again. The worst , deliberate high shot for a long time & he gets what’s really a ‘ 1 ‘ game suspension . After he did 2 high shots in another game for ‘ 0 ‘ games suspension. No comment GB & co?
JennyFromPenny
Guest
In all likelihood, the suspension served during the World Cup has saved players around the world from his swinging arms.
JennyFromPenny
Guest
The longer he is out, the longer the career spans of his opposition.
Kevin
Guest
And he has a chance to raise a WC trophy, nope can't happen.
Mitch
Guest
Same as any offence, NSW/QLD or any international team are also punished with the club getting an advantage, can't see a way around it.
Muzz
Guest
So his punishment for 2 atrocious tackles in the space of 4 weeks is a paid holiday to England. Smells like horse shit, Pete
Adam Clements
Roar Rookie
I believe that’s what they’ve done but it’s still at the convenience of South’s which seems odd considering the offense occurred while playing for Souths.
Succhi
Roar Rookie
I don’t like it. My first reaction was to serve the suspension in the competition you committed the foul. Milne should serve NRL games - or whatever the lower tier comp/feeder club equivalent. I think some responsibility has to lie with the club. But then I was thinking what if he did that in a rep game? I dunno.
Tim Carter
Roar Pro
I think you would have to be able to cite previous selection or whatever else to show likelihood of selection. Milne played in Fiji's last test.
JOHN ALLAN
Guest
My hazy memory recalls Blocker Roach trying to temporarily sign up with an English side to “serve his suspension” then return to play a finals game with Balmain. That plan was vetoed by the ARL.