Radley victim of double standards
How in the hell is Victor Radley facing a three-match ban for a half-baked headbutt when Jarome Luai escapes with a $1800 fine for pushing a touch judge?
While it seems no one around the game wants to say it publicly, everyone is privately laughing about the fact it has yet again exposed ridiculous double standards when it comes to State of Origin and how players in contention for selection always seem to get the rub of the green.
I have no doubt which incident was more detrimental to the game’s image. And in Luai’s case, it now sets a dangerous precedent of what is acceptable contact with match officials.
I have heard some commentary that this was a common-sense decision by the NRL’s match review committee because it did not warrant a player missing a match as important as an Origin.
Yet in the past, even making minor contact with a referee or a touch judge almost always resulted in a suspension.
Sam Thaiday spoke about it on Channel 9 following the Panthers’ win over the Broncos – how it cost him a game back when he was playing.
And Dragons fans will remember how Tyson Frizell was suspended for a game in 2016 for accidentally brushing past a ref when he was simply trying to get back in the defensive line. There has been a stack of other examples.
Meanwhile Luai, for some strange reason, will be free to be named in coach Brad Fittler’s Blues team on Monday.
But, Radley, who was not in Origin contention, has been hung out to dry.
I know people are saying Radley is his own worst enemy and he needs to rein in his emotions because he is becoming a liability to his team.
But judging this incident in isolation, if you watch the replay you will see this was not an old-fashioned Liverpool kiss because Radley mostly makes contact with Blake Lawrie’s chest, and in no way was it forceful contact.
Then compare it to last week’s cannonball tackle from Eels and NSW prop Junior Paulo on Raiders front-rower Joseph Tapine and seriously, which one is more dangerous?