Latu Fainu’s tackle which NRL lawyers said could have resulted in Leo Thompson’s “broken neck” was the third time in the past two seasons the Wests Tigers player has put an opposition player in a dangerous position.
Fainu was entrusted to a three match ban after being found guilty of dangerous communication in court on Tuesday night after going down to Thompson and turned the Canterbury prop upside down and in a vulnerable position.
While some pundits questioned Fainu’s fault, Tigers coach Benji Marshall admitted on Thursday that the club would need to work on a strategy to deal with the defender, with his ban now paving the way. rookie Javon Andrews making his debut on Saturday in what is sure to be a good clash against Canberra.
Although Fainu won public support for his performance, the 21-year-old was penalized for tackling New Zealand Warriors defender Mitch Barnett in round four last year. The confrontation, which was penalized at the time, caused chaos and Fainu was later served with a notice of action against him by the NRL.
Then, against Canberra in round 26 last season, Fainu went down again, leaving Raiders center Simi Sasagi clutching his knee. Sisagi stood up and Fainu was not punished, but was handed a second notice of action.
The referee could be heard telling angry Raiders players that the kick was not a “cannonball”.
Andrew Johns said on Nine Sunday Footy Show on Fainu’s tackle on Thompson: “He hasn’t done anything wrong, he’s been tackled on a low level. You can’t take an accident out of the game … it’s not even a penalty.”
“You can’t jump up because you’ll hit them on the chin… and you can’t go down? Where are you supposed to hit them?”
Eels legend Nathan Hindmarsh was more to the point when he said the above Sunday night with Matty Johns: “That’s bulls–t. That’s a joke.”
Panel members Tony Puletua and Paul Simpkins were satisfied that Fainu’s handling was dangerous and careless, and that “he had every opportunity to try to deal normally, but chose not to; the result was to put player Thompson at serious risk of injury”.
The vacancy created by Fainu’s suspension means Andrews, 19, is expected to be handed his NRL debut after impressive displays in the NSW Cup.
The the last time the Tigers and Canberra metTigers fans mocked the Vikings’ applause and began an unflattering “f— Canberra” chant, while Sunia Turuva and Tom Starling had to be separated after half-time, with the drama filmed on television.
It was reported when the “robber’s” sledge made a noise, apparently referring to Starling’s. a long battle with the police in courte after the incident in the Central Coast.
Starling was charged with assaulting police in late 2020 but those charges were dropped, with two police officers now charged with assaulting Starling. The two denied the charges and the case is in court.
Tigers prop Fonua Pole was expecting a frosty reception on and off the field at the GIO Stadium, and remembered the drama last time.
“But I don’t see any of that as negative, it’s part of the game, you show love, you go to the field to win, the guys from the other team are your opponents when you’re on the field, but as soon as you leave the field, everyone has respect for each other,” Pole said.
“(Regarding the Canberra crowd), that’s the way the game goes, and if you give it, you’ve got to take it. Hopefully, we’re not on the other side of that. If we’re winning and playing well, they’re not going to get away with it.”
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