Wests Tigers winger Luke Laulilli has been hit with a one-match ban for a mid-air tackle that ended Parramatta rival Bailey Simonsson’s season.
Tigers coach Benji Marshall and teammates said Laulilli did not deserve to be binned for his effort on Simonsson as the pair contested the ball approaching the hour mark during Monday’s golden-point epic, which the Tigers won 22-20.
Simonsson dislocated his ankle, was taken from the field on the back of a medicab, then rushed to hospital.
“I didn’t agree with it, it’s as simple as that,” Marshall said of the sin-binning.
“If he [Simonsson] didn’t get injured, would it have been the same result?”
Tigers flyer Sunia Turuva said of the incident: “I didn’t think there was too much in it, to be honest. They both went up to compete, and they clashed in the air. Luke saw him catch the ball and put his arm out. I would have done the same thing. It was unfortunate. I can only hope for Bailey Simonsson, it isn’t too bad.”
The match review committee issued a grade-two dangerous contact charge late Monday, which means Lualilli, 19, will miss Sunday’s second-versus-third clash against Newcastle at Campbelltown Sports Stadium.
The punishment will come as little comfort for the Eels who have now lost Simonsson, Isaiah Iongi (ankle) for eight weeks and J’maine Hopgood (knee) for the season in three consecutive weeks as a result of foul play.
Lualilii, Penrith’s Mitch Kenny and St George Illawarra’s Ryan Couchman, the three players charged with the respective offences, will miss a combined six weeks.
Parramatta coach Jason Ryles said none of the tackles were intentional, “but there’s a reason those actions are outlawed, [and it is] because of what we’re going through now”.
Eels CEO Jim Sarantinos spoke to this masthead last week about the idea of clubs being granted salary-cap dispensation if players were sidelined for a lengthy amount of time as a result of foul play.
Ryles had already asked club officials to ask the NRL if that was even an option, and said, “surely it would be something worth considering [if it is] foul play, a season-ending injury; I think common sense would prevail.”
Simonsson posted a photo of himself in hospital late Monday with the caption: “Man highs and lows of footy. Nothing I haven’t faced before. I’ll be back better than before, in for surgery tonight and back on the mend tomorrow.”
Eels centre Sean Russell will also be out of action because of concussion – he was fined $750 for hitting Heamasi Makasini high during the same incident he knocked himself out – while Jonah Pezet has a hamstring issue. Ryles said he was a better chance of playing than Pezet ahead of Sunday’s clash at home to the Gold Coast.
For the Tigers, Starford To’a (foot) was listed to play in reserve grade on Monday and is one option in the outside backs with Lualilli ineligible, while Taylan May (shoulder) is close to a return, but will not be ready for the Knights. Marshall confirmed Jarome Luai was also unlikely, even though the playmaker is desperate to get back after injuring his knee.
Meanwhile, Turuva explained the bizarre moment Eels fullback Joash Papalii stood over him and screamed in his face when he drove the centre into touch.
“Something happened between us earlier in the game,” Turuva said.
“When we scored I got into him, I carried on a bit, so when he was involved in the tackle where they took me out, he got stuck into me. Fair play to him. It was good. These Easter clashes can get fiery.”
