The Warriors and Manly went to golden level in Auckland yesterday after Shaun Johnson tried a two-point discipline purpose, lacking, however Sea Eagles prop Josh Aloiai ran by his proper leg in his follow-through.
Johnson stayed down because the full-time siren sounded and the bunker dominated a penalty, with Johnson potting the game-tying purpose.
It was comparable, albeit much less violent, to an incident that broke the leg of Souths half Lachlan Ilias on the finish of a NSW Cup sport final week and the match overview committee hit Aloiai with a one- to two-match ban.
Former Jillaroo Karina Brown and ex-Kangaroo Billy Moore mentioned on ABC Sport’s dwell radio protection that the referees received it proper.
“It is the identical with the top being sacrosanct; you simply cannot hit the kicker once they’re within the air,” Moore mentioned.
“You need the gamers pondering ‘I can have a critical crack at this’ and never fear about getting a critical harm.”
On Channel 9’s Sunday Footy Present, NRL Immortal Andrew Johns disagreed.
A vocal advocate for the safety of playmakers, Johns nonetheless labelled the contact as an accident and didn’t consider it warranted a penalty.
“I’m all for shielding kickers and playmakers, I in all probability go excessive on it, nevertheless it wasn’t a penalty,” the previous Newcastle and Kangaroos halfback mentioned.
“He is competing. And whenever you compete arduous, sometimes accidents occur. That was simply an accident.”
Brad Fittler mentioned the league “must get this proper” as a result of the Ilias incident confirmed how badly it will probably go.
“It is alright to get penalised for [accidents],” he mentioned in response to Johns.
“You do not simply get penalised for the [malicious] issues within the sport. If you happen to get it unsuitable you’ll be able to nonetheless get penalised and never be hated on. He received it unsuitable, he hit his leg. And also you simply cannot do it, it is too harmful.”