Jarome Luai has called out Roosters enforcer Jared Waerea-Hargreaves after his late rampage saw two Panthers go off concussed before a brawl that ended with Spencer Leniu joining future teammate Jared in the sin bin.
Liam Martin’s head knock came from an accidental collision with Waerea-Hargreaves’ hip, but the Match Review Committee will likely have a long look at the incident that ended Moses Leota’s night.
The Panthers prop was caught in the head by his Kiwis teammates’ non-ball-carrying elbow, with many calling it deliberate.
Moments later, Waerea-Hargreaves sparked a bral by throwing a water bottle at Leniu, who was seen to be offering him out into the car park, eyes bulging, before being dragged away by teammates.
According to Luai, it was chat from Jared after the Leota incident that riled up the Panthers.
“He had a fair bit to say, especially after the elbow, which ticked us all off,” said the five eighth. “I think that was just the build up of a bit of frustration.
“I understand that what happens on the field stays on the field but there’s got to be a line in the sand. We’ve had enough of him.
“Spenny’s going there next year so it might be a bit awkward. That’s footy man, it’s the heat of the battle and what happens on the field stays on the field.”
Trent Robinson responded by describing the incident as ‘good for footy’
“It was great for footy, wasn’t it?” said the Roosters boss. “That’s why people enjoy watching footy.
“There was nothing in it from either end. It heated there. I don’t think Jared did anything wrong. Guys run out of the line and try and belt him.”
Naturally, Ivan Cleary did not see it the same way.
“It started from Jared,” said the Panthers coach. “He was just looking for trouble, that was obvious. And he found it.
“There was numerous incidents. On the balance of probabilities, Jared was the one initiating it.
“I don’t think many frontrowers like what happened. It was a little condescending, I thought. It was unnecessary. Spence didn’t like it and that’s what he showed. I thought he was unfortunate, I’m not sure why he was put in the bin.”
Opinions were split on whether the Leota incident was accidental, with again, the coaches unable to agree.
“It’s really unfortunate for Liam that he copped a hip,” said Robinson. “And then Jared was getting his bumpers up in every tackle that they run into and copped Moses there. That’s a forwards battle. And then it flared up. Good theatre, move on.”
Ivan saw it differently.
“If I’m truthful, I did,” he replied when asked if he saw it differently to the referee, who gave no penalty.
“It was very questionable. The way he looked, the way he saw him, the way it was cocked.”
Lenui is unlikely to receive any charge for his part in the brawl, and might well benefit from publically losing his rag when Brad Fittler makes his call on a new bench enforcer for the NSW team.
Luai backed his Samoan international teammate in for an Origin spot.
“I know Spenny, he’s a smart footballer,” he said.
“I know he’s a front-rower but he’s got some brains in that head! He’s got that fireball energy and when he’s out there he can change the momentum of the game.
“He’s been doing this consistently this year and if he’s handed that opportunity he’s going to relish it in that arena. He’s built for it.
“Watch out man, he’s a fireball. That’s what we call him, fireball.”
Maxtruck
Roar Rookie
He will if you get your shoulder in his ribs under the ball carrying arm
jammel
Roar Rookie
Liked that comment Wollongong Ocean! Purely because of the name "Wollongong Ocean" :)
jammel
Roar Rookie
I'm not so much worried about Teddy anymore. I'd be more worried as a Maroon if Dylan Edwards was the #1 :) :)
jammel
Roar Rookie
i'm personally looking forward to the next Lenui/Luai vs JWH encounter! Robbo - lol. I don't usually listen when he speaks, but I like that one: "“It was great for footy, wasn’t it?...That’s why people enjoy watching footy.". Love it! :)
Maxtruck
Roar Rookie
Bulldogs V Eels round 15, 15 minutes into the second half Paulo running the ball cracks Kurtis Morrin in the temple with his elbow, his loose arm , not the ball carrying arm. Morrin off HIA, nothing said ?
Pickett
Roar Rookie
I’m gonna disagree on that one Beathy, but the elbow to Crichton in the same move was deliberate.
Slammin_Sam
Roar Rookie
The great barometer for common decency and common sense Jerome luai said we’d had enough…..its like jeffrey dahmer saying I’ll look after the boys…..
Succhi
Roar Rookie
Ha - Luai has had enough of JWH grubby tactics. Pot, meet kettle!
souvalis
Roar Rookie
Middle forward priority in that situation is meter making thru bending the line and skittling defenders aggressively. He should have an equal concern/diligence for a defender's head as Joseph Sua'ali and his knees. Any middle worth his weight will seldomly lose the ball at collision.
Maxtruck
Roar Rookie
So ball security takes a back seat to worry about the defenders head position
quoinkey
Roar Rookie
Growing up we would call JWH a meat-head. Sure you didn't want to get tackled by those big boys but they were no real threat in the sporting sense and certainly not a threat off the field. But here we have a fully grown meat-head and his behavior has been like this for almost all of his career. Who exactly is enabling him to keep carrying on like this? His father seems to be a hard man that is honorable and believes in self sacrifice so I wonder what he thinks of his son's career as a meat-head?
eagleJack
Roar Guru
It is a bit sad how predictable the MRC are when it comes to JWH. Sprays water at Leniu, then throws the bottle at him, and only receives a fine. So he’s free to do it all again next week.
souvalis
Roar Rookie
Left or right they’re both weapons disguised as protection. If no one tackles you around the ball the door is wide open for offloads and second phase.. look at the Broncos winning try yesterday. One was just more cunningly concealed and caused far more serious complications. Hopefully Bellamy will do far more to rein in his loose canon before todays game than Robinson did with his.
watty
Roar Rookie
As a longtime supporter of the roosters, I'll discipline and non-accountability from coach and players is what is pi55ing me off. And just no attempt to make an effort. Really not much of a club to support at the moment
Maxtruck
Roar Rookie
Clear difference with the Tino and JWH Tino clocked Api with the ball carrying arm JWH hit Leota with his loose fending arm
Nathan Absalom
Roar Guru
For a team where discipline is a major, if not the major issue, it's a bit perplexing to see the coach out there defending a grown man squirting and throwing water bottles at the opposition.
Emcie
Roar Guru
And they wonder why people have no faith in coaches duty of care. How many times have we seen Cleary dismissing Kikau sending someone from the field as just ‘clumsy’, or Robinson demanding dangerous hits be stamped out of the game? At least these guys are kept well away from any commissions that implement policies for the NRL. Oh, wait…..
Relaxed and Comfortable
Roar Rookie
Spot on Tony. In the meantime maybe any prospective tacklers should form a guard of honour and let these “stars” sail on through.
Tony
Roar Guru
The tipping point will come when a "no name" forward inflicts the damage on a "star" player. The MRC will then be safe to proceed without upsetting too many people.
The Raw
Roar Rookie
Two games, two “elbow to head contact” injuries. Both judged legal under the letter of the NRL rules. I wonder what the tipping point will be, (3 injuries, 5 injuries, more?), before the administrators realise they have a problem and need to change the rule? They waited a long time to eventually act on Joseph Sualii’s “knee lifting” running style, (it was already illegal), but it took an injury to an opponent before they did. C’mon NRL, do something this “elbow” thing please. You might get criticised for it by the screaming masses, but the alternative, (more serious injuries), is worse I believe. PS, Before anyone asks, I don’t know “how” to change to rule, but hopefully the NRL brains trust can find a solution for the safety of it’s employees.