Clock ticks on Big Ben
Mooloos’ big prop will find out his fate today, reports Aaron Goile.
Ben Tameifuna’s somewhat innocuous shove on referee Glen Jackson could have greater consequences than first thought, the hulking Waikato prop facing possible suspension for the rest of the NPC season.
The 137kg enforcer pushed Jackson to the ground during his team’s ITM Cup win over North Harbour at QBE Stadium on Saturday night. Waikato were defending their goal-line in the 72nd minute, when Tameifuna decided to get Jackson out of his way.
Soon after fulltime Tameifuna said there was no remorse from Jackson, who ironically sin binned the front rower just seconds after the incident because he played the ball on the ground.
On Tuesday night New Zealand Rugby (NZR) said Tameifuna, 23, was cited for acting against the spirit of good sportsmanship, with a judicial hearing set down for 2pm yesterday, to be heard by judicial officer Chris Morris.
But in a bizarre twist, Tameifuna was left to sleep with the decision hanging over his head after technical problems with the video conference, andMorris’ limited time to process the case, meant the hearing was deferred till 10am today – the time the Waikato team fly to Nelson for their game against Tasman tomorrow night.
It’s further disruption to the Mooloos’ preparation after they yesterday delayed their team announcement to await Tameifuna’s outcome, before releasing it in the afternoon on the assumption he wouldn’t be available. And that’s a safe bet. According to NZR’s Disciplinary Rules, the ‘‘lower end’’ punishment for law 10.4(m) – Any other acts not previously referred to which are contrary to good sportsmanship – is four weeks, while ‘‘mid-range’’ is seven weeks and ‘‘top end’’ is 11-plus weeks.
There are just six regular season games remaining for Waikato, who are realistic about their prospects.
‘‘We’re planning for the worst. Hope for the best, expect the worst, type thing,’’ coach Johnny Walters said.
‘‘I don’t really want to talk too much about it.
Waikato prop Ben Tameifuna will find out his punishment today.
‘‘It’s with the powers above now and it’ll be dealt with the way it’s dealt with, and we have to prepare our marvellous rugby team for a game of footy on Friday night, so we’ll do that the best way we know how, and that’ll get taken care of.’’
It’s a quirky one to be sorted out, with no precedent seemingly set. Four weeks seems harsh when some dangerous tackle and stamping charges are only two, while verbal abuse of match officials is a minimum six weeks and physical abuse is 24.
In rugby league’s UK Super League earlier this year, Castleford fullback Jordan Tansey was banned for three games for pushing referee Tim Roby in the back, while in 2012 the NRL match
HOW THEY LINE UP
Albert Nikoro, Declan O’Donnell, Jordan Payne, Anton Lienert-Brown, Joe Webber, Damian McKenzie, Brad Weber, Adam Burn, Marty Holah, Whetu Douglas, Jacob Skeen, Luke Katene, Josh Hohneck, Brayden Mitchell, Loni Uhila. Reserves: Harry Jones, James McGougan, Nick Ross, Zane Kapeli, Harrison Levien, Wharenui Hawera, Regan Ware. review panel decided not to take action against the Manly Sea Eagles’ Steve Matai when he put a heavy bump on referee Brett Suttor.
Rod Hill, NZR’s high performance ref- eree manager, declined to comment about the Tameifuna incident.
Waikato have named Josh Hohneck to start at tighthead in place of Tameifuna, while they have made three other changes to their starting lineup for tomorrow night.
Openside flanker Zak Hohneck is out with a swollen knee and is replaced by the team’s other vice-captain, Marty Holah, who wasn’t in the 22 last weekend. Hooker Brayden Mitchell is back in the run-on side, with Hame Faiva succumbing to a niggling ankle injury he has been carrying.
Jordan Payne is back at centre after resting a groin problem.
He is set to team up with Anton Lienert-Brown, though the second-five didn’t complete the whole of yesterday’s training session, his ankle continuing to give him grief. Prop James McGougan, hooker Harry Jones and halfback Harrison Levien come on to the bench.
Walters said he was expecting the injuries to start taking care of themselves now the short turnaround was out of the way, and with Waikato’s next match not until Sunday week .
Tasman will be a tough proposition. They are unbeaten in the premiership, having put away Hawke’s Bay and Bay of Plenty, before drawing with Auckland last weekend.