Kafusi wins appeal and gets off

[ConGa]

I can see why he got off but also why it was intentional. If I were him I'd do exactly the same to opposite halves

[milanja]

Paul Gallen’s take - it was a deliberate attack to Sam’s head but so what:

“It’s a contact sport. It’s a part of the game,” Gallen said on Nine’s 100% Footy. “Did he mean it? You know what? He probably did. But it’s a contact sport, and I just think it’s part of the game. I don’t think he should have been charged at all.”

Benji was the only guy on the fox panel who also said he had nothing to answer, and was blaming Walker to an extent.

sounded like he just wanted to disagree with the rest of the panel, it was strange.

[ism22]

Paul Kent and Brent Read (edited by yours truely to make it conversation rather than article style). FWIW on the NRL 360 panel Kent, Hooper and Anasta all seem to have agreed it was dodgy as fark. Read disagrees on no real basis other than the fact he later returned to the field... in his view, Kaufusi was just breaking his fall and got charged on reputation.

---

Read: 'He has been charged on reputation, that doesn’t even warrant a charge for me'

Kent: 'Are you serious? Are you serious?'

Read: 'If that was anyone else they wouldn’t be charged. That does not warrant a charge for me.'

Kent: 'You have got no idea, you’ve got no idea, that is as deliberate as it comes.

Read: 'What he rubs his arm in, he didn’t drop his arm in, it is way different to that.'

Kent: 'Oh come on, Ready, let me ask you this, so when he goes down on top of Walker here, right at the top he extends the arm, to keep it on the head, he extends the arm, watch his right arm, so it is not about breaking the fall, it is about keeping it on his head. He keeps it on his head, there you go, that is the dangerous contact.'

Read: 'That is nothing, I disagree, I don’t think he deserved a charge for that, he was charged on his reputation'

Hopper: 'You’ve lost the plot'

Read: 'I didn’t think it was that bad'

Kent: 'Mate seriously, honestly that is unacceptable, you are going to hold up Sam Walker as one of the bright sparks of our game'

Read: 'He was fine, he came back on and finished the game'

Kent: 'He went off bleeding'

Read: 'So what, if every player who gets cut we are claiming it was from foul play'

Kent: 'He smashed him in the face... come on mate, watch the game'

Anasta: 'He doesn’t look too good there mate'

Read: 'Oh come on look at him, he has got a little busted face, he is fine he finished the game, fair dinkum'

https://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/nrl...7570da9e0645be

[ism22]

Another article in support of Walker. Honestly, just about everybody's on our side and I think anal-guy needs to respond to this one.

Bellamy basically says 'oh I didn't actually see it but there was nothing in it because the bunker woulda penalised him if it was intentional'.

IMO Bellamy's coached this (hence how he can 'know it's not a penalty' without having seen it). I'd say he's also coaching the neck grab all his players are using (where they pinch that nerve on the back of the head to try and force a knock-on). Poor form from Belly-ache... guessing he's 100% okay if Kaufusi does this to Munster during training?

The more I think about it, THIS should fire us up!!! The Drizz were so farking desperate about being down against us that the Cheese lay down for a penalty and Kaufusi did a dog shot to rule-out our 5/8 for a significant period.

I'm glad we frustrated the Drizz and made them have to resort to desperate, grubby shyte. Farking bring it on 2022 season!!! To me this shows our game's an inch away from being where it needs to be in order to seriously trouble the teflon favourites. When people start saying Easts were robbed on a call like this, you know the call was absolute bollocks as everybody hates us...

I hope that next time, Suaalii lines up Kaufusi and shows him how to hit a player properly.

---

Source: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world...ker/ar-AAYnseN

Felise Kaufusi gets off scot free AGAIN after hitting Sam Walker

Felise Kaufusi will be available to play for Queensland in the second instalment of the State of Origin series later this month after being cleared of deliberating slamming his elbow into Sam Walker's face.

The Stom star was hit with a low-grade Dangerous Contact charge, which carries a fine of $1800 for an early guilty plea. Significantly, the ruling leaves him free to play Game II of the Origin series in Perth on June 26.

Walker departed for a HIA in the second half of the Roosters' 26-18 loss to Melbourne on Saturday, after he was hit by Kaufusi's elbow while trying to tackle the Storm second rower.

The Queensland star came down on top of Walker as the duo hit the ground and his right arm - which was carrying the ball - crashed into the Roosters gun's head as Walker hit the turf.

Footage appeared to show Kaufusi raised his arm just before Walker's head made contact with the ground, but the NRL Judiciary ruled the impact was not deliberate.

Several analysts condemned the incident, particularly given Kaufusi's track record as the Storm gun was banned for two games for a similar incident involving Paramatta’s Ryan Matterson last year.

The Daily Telegraph veteran NRL journalist Phil Rothfield described the incident as 'disgraceful', while former NRL great Greg Alexander felt Kaufusi had deliberately targeted Walker.

'He does have history,' Alexander said on commentary on Saturday.

'Do you think he moved that elbow? Okay, I’ll say it, I think he meant what we saw. He knew exactly what he was doing.'

Storm coach Craig Bellamy, however, had a different view of the incident and insisted the video referee would have stepped in had Kaufusi deserved to be penalised.

The referee appeared to miss the incident and the bunker did not get involve either.

'I didn’t see it, I don’t really watch the screen, I am watching what is happening on the field so I didn’t really see what happened but I don’t think he [Kaufusi] got penalised for it,' the Melbourne boss said.

'So you think if there was something that was wrong with it the Bunker would have stepped in. [...]

'I am not going to comment on something I didn’t see and you’d think the Bunker would have picked it up if it wasn’t within the rules.'

[rented tracksuit]

Absoute madness. they send guys off for 10 minutes for ridiculous minimal accidental contact with the head, yet this thug shoves his elbow into the head of a defenceless player whose head is on the ground, causing the player to leave the field, and gets nothing.... no penalty, no fine. Madness.

Yep and where wax the bunker in all this? I can’t recall properly but pretty sure play was stopped so why did they not intervene?

[rented tracksuit]

Benji was the only guy on the fox panel who also said he had nothing to answer, and was blaming Walker to an extent.

sounded like he just wanted to disagree with the rest of the panel, it was strange.

It’s how they ratings and get people talking. It also gives them something post on Facebook.

There’s always one trying to sound controversial.

[rented tracksuit]

Another article in support of Walker. Honestly, just about everybody's on our side and I think anal-guy needs to respond to this one.

Bellamy basically says 'oh I didn't actually see it but there was nothing in it because the bunker woulda penalised him if it was intentional'.

IMO Bellamy's coached this (hence how he can 'know it's not a penalty' without having seen it). I'd say he's also coaching the neck grab all his players are using (where they pinch that nerve on the back of the head to try and force a knock-on). Poor form from Belly-ache... guessing he's 100% okay if Kaufusi does this to Munster during training?

The more I think about it, THIS should fire us up!!! The Drizz were so farking desperate about being down against us that the Cheese lay down for a penalty and Kaufusi did a dog shot to rule-out our 5/8 for a significant period.

I'm glad we frustrated the Drizz and made them have to resort to desperate, grubby shyte. Farking bring it on 2022 season!!! To me this shows our game's an inch away from being where it needs to be in order to seriously trouble the teflon favourites. When people start saying Easts were robbed on a call like this, you know the call was absolute bollocks as everybody hates us...

I hope that next time, Suaalii lines up Kaufusi and shows him how to hit a player properly.

---

Source: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world...ker/ar-AAYnseN

Felise Kaufusi gets off scot free AGAIN after hitting Sam Walker

Felise Kaufusi will be available to play for Queensland in the second instalment of the State of Origin series later this month after being cleared of deliberating slamming his elbow into Sam Walker's face.

The Stom star was hit with a low-grade Dangerous Contact charge, which carries a fine of $1800 for an early guilty plea. Significantly, the ruling leaves him free to play Game II of the Origin series in Perth on June 26.

Walker departed for a HIA in the second half of the Roosters' 26-18 loss to Melbourne on Saturday, after he was hit by Kaufusi's elbow while trying to tackle the Storm second rower.

The Queensland star came down on top of Walker as the duo hit the ground and his right arm - which was carrying the ball - crashed into the Roosters gun's head as Walker hit the turf.

Footage appeared to show Kaufusi raised his arm just before Walker's head made contact with the ground, but the NRL Judiciary ruled the impact was not deliberate.

Several analysts condemned the incident, particularly given Kaufusi's track record as the Storm gun was banned for two games for a similar incident involving Paramatta’s Ryan Matterson last year.

The Daily Telegraph veteran NRL journalist Phil Rothfield described the incident as 'disgraceful', while former NRL great Greg Alexander felt Kaufusi had deliberately targeted Walker.

'He does have history,' Alexander said on commentary on Saturday.

'Do you think he moved that elbow? Okay, I’ll say it, I think he meant what we saw. He knew exactly what he was doing.'

Storm coach Craig Bellamy, however, had a different view of the incident and insisted the video referee would have stepped in had Kaufusi deserved to be penalised.

The referee appeared to miss the incident and the bunker did not get involve either.

'I didn’t see it, I don’t really watch the screen, I am watching what is happening on the field so I didn’t really see what happened but I don’t think he [Kaufusi] got penalised for it,' the Melbourne boss said.

'So you think if there was something that was wrong with it the Bunker would have stepped in. [...]

'I am not going to comment on something I didn’t see and you’d think the Bunker would have picked it up if it wasn’t within the rules.'

That right there is the one and only reason he isn’t doing time for his dog shot.

[Renman]

He got off simply because they charged him incorrectly in the first place. For mine there was clear intent and because of this it should have been regarded as a High Tackle reckless Grade 4. Really PMOff.
Also, has anyone else noticed the new Storm wrestling technique .. they chicken wing a player but do it from the front not the rear of the tackled player. Same result but they are getting away with it because the body of the tackler hide the action. Over the past 15 years this team have done a lot to ruin the game but get away with murder because of NRL and media wanting a broader base nationally for the sport. Yes, I am an old codger but to me there is something that is called, ' The spirit of the game' . What the Storm does is not in the spirit of the game.

[Hawkeye]

I think he's gotten more dirty since going bald ? When he had the the Larry Fine hair I dont recall to much rubbish in his game, but ever since Keary ripped it out from the roots in that 2019 semi, he gotten a bit more grub into his game !

[TheLoneRooster]

The litmus test for me in these situations is to swap players around and see if the result would be different: thus, JWH elbows the face of either one of the drizzle scum's eminently punchable halves.

I'm certain JWH would not have escaped being charged (not just fined/let off) like the scumbag drizzle backrower, who has done this before.

[DP1990]

Paul Gallen’s take - it was a deliberate attack to Sam’s head but so what:

“It’s a contact sport. It’s a part of the game,” Gallen said on Nine’s 100% Footy. “Did he mean it? You know what? He probably did. But it’s a contact sport, and I just think it’s part of the game. I don’t think he should have been charged at all.”

Gal has taken far too many shots to the head as of late...


1. Who gives a rats ass what Gal has to say ?!
2. His comments are pathetic and unsophisticated. If anything he should think twice about the crap he says since he's an "ambassador of the game and media personality". I'm sure parents of young kids playing the game at a grass-roots level would love his view on the matter and in general !
3. Contact sport ? No shit sherlock !!! ... but just because it's a 'contact sport' and contact to the head is unfortunately a part of the game doesn't justify or cover as a reasonable excuse/reason for slamming a bloke's head to the ground.
4. Shut the f*ck up Paul you halfwit !

[DP1990]

Benji was the only guy on the fox panel who also said he had nothing to answer, and was blaming Walker to an extent.

sounded like he just wanted to disagree with the rest of the panel, it was strange.

Benji sounds like the kid who was asking me for dollar the other week at Blacktown train station.


I don't know how that clown is a guest on Fox League and Triple M but he sounds like a special-education student every time he speaks and he can't have a constructive conversation without him taking it as a personal attack or an argument. How did he get his own tv show ??? ... for f*cks sake !!!

[milanja]

The litmus test for me in these situations is to swap players around and see if the result would be different: thus, JWH elbows the face of either one of the drizzle scum's eminently punchable halves.

I'm certain JWH would not have escaped being charged (not just fined/let off) like the scumbag drizzle backrower, who has done this before.

I can’t remember if he got charged or got off, a few years ago,there was a game where Jared raised his forearm in a tackle and then seemed to rub it into the players head on the ground, does anyone remember that or what happened in the aftermath?

[ism22]

That right there is the one and only reason he isn’t doing time for his dog shot.

> Felise Kaufusi will be available to play for Queensland in the second instalment of the State of Origin series later this month after being cleared of deliberating slamming his elbow into Sam Walker's face.

Yeah, it does sound a bit like Slater's blatant shoulder charge. Bellamy talked to the NRL about the impact a suspension would have and they decided to sweep the whole thing under the rug.

IMO he'll get his payback. Grubs always do.

[ism22]

3. Contact sport ? No shit sherlock !!! ... but just because it's a 'contact sport' and contact to the head is unfortunately a part of the game doesn't justify or cover as a reasonable excuse/reason for slamming a bloke's head to the ground.

IMO the NRL are absolute suckers for anything Craig Bellamy says.

It's like there's a book of rules for him where every single type of 'dangerous contact' needs to be expressly spelled out (otherwise it's not dangerous) and a rule for everybody else whereby if it looks like 'dangerous contact', it probably is!

I reckon Bellamy would appear far less 'smart' if the NRL just called the shyte he coaches players to do 'dangerous contact' rather than allowing it for 5 years, waiting for a media debate, sending it to a committee (where Bellamy chairs the coaches' voice) and then making some weirdarse rule change that significantly changes the way we play by over-policing of random, unrelated shyte (by which time Bellamy will have thought up a new kind of dangerous contact anyway).

We ban dangerous contact for a reason. IMO refs need more power to call what they see and know they'll be backed up if it's appealed.