Munster turns blind eye to McGuire gouge
North Queensland forward Josh McGuire has escaped an NRL ban for his alleged eye gouge on Cameron Munster, instead copping a $NZ3500 fine.
McGuire was yesterday hit with a grade one contrary conduct charge by the match review committee for the incident in the first half of Melbourne’s 18-12 win over the Cowboys in Townsville on Friday night.
Munster refused to make an official complaint to the on-field referees, despite video evidence showing his Queensland State of Origin team-mate putting his fingers in his eyes.
Melbourne skipper Cameron Smith said Munster was upset on the field after McGuire put his hand into his face during a 17th minute tackle.
Munster came out of the tackle clutching at his face and later admitted McGuire ‘‘did get me’’ but chose not to take the incident further. ‘‘I won’t go there,’’ Munster told the Nine Network.
‘‘Me and Moose have a connection there. He did get me but I wasn’t going to put it on report.’’
The charge usually carries a $1700 fine, however McGuire will be stung $3500 because of his poor record and three similar charges in the last two years.
McGuire will consider himself lucky after evidence showed him making contact with Munster’s eyes.
North Queensland coach Paul Green defended his No 13, saying it was not in his nature to eye gouge.
But Smith confirmed that Munster complained to him following the tackle.
‘‘I didn’t actually see the incident. He was quite upset by what had happened. He was quite strong with what he was saying to the referee,’’ Smith said. ‘‘The referee asked him again did he want to make an official complaint.
‘‘I’m not sure if Cameron knew the protocol there with something as serious as an eye gouge or biting where you have to make an official complaint.
‘‘I mentioned to him that if that happens, there’s repercussions in the next few days or weeks. I said have a think about it, if not let’s just get on with the game.’’
South Sydney prop George Burgess was banned for four games after being found guilty of an eye gouge on New Zealand captain Dallin Watene-Zelezniak during a test match for England last year. Burgess missed the opening three rounds of the NRL season for the ban.
Meanwhile, the Gold Coast are set to be without prop Jarrod Wallace for two to three weeks after he was cited for a grade one shoulder charge on the Panthers’ Watene-Zelezniak.
The Queensland forward can accept a two-week ban for the tackle, which sparked an all-in scuffle during the Titans’ upset win on Friday, however risks being outed for three weeks if he fights the charge at the judiciary. AAP