Josh McGuire has run out of chances after second facial fine

NRL’s head of football Graham Annesley admitted round 13 “wasn’t our best” in terms of on-field decision making, singling out two vital decisions against the Cowboys and another against the Eels.

Josh McGuire is out of chances at the NRL judiciary. Picture: Ian Hitchcock

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Queensland firebrand Josh McGuire has run out of chances with the North Queensland forward facing a ban even for the smallest indiscretion.

McGuire was whacked with his second fine of the season — this time a $3400 infringement for a facial on Manly’s Dylan Walker. Under the NRL rules players can only use the fine system twice in a season before facing the prospect of missing matches next time they are charged.

NRL’s head of football Graham Annesley said it was important to look at the offence rather than who has committed them after McGuire was not hit with a more severe eye-gouge charge.

Josh McGuire is out of chances at the NRL judiciary. Picture: Ian Hitchcock

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Canberra’s Hudson Young was banned for five games for eye gouging Canterbury’s Aiden Tolman.

"There is a difference between a facial and poking around in the eyes of an opponent, and what we would traditionally call eye-gouging," Annesley said.

"There is a significant difference. The match review committee have to rely on the evidence that is available to them, which is video evidence.

Kyle Feldt was unlucky on one occasion. Picture: Ian Hitchcock

"You don't often get players who want to complain or carry on with the complaint in relation to these matters. I understand that.

"In the absence of complaints, the only evidence the match review committee have to deal with is video evidence. In some cases, the video evidence is clearer than others."

Annesley said round 13 “wasn’t our best” in terms of on-field decision making.

He pointed to two crucial calls against the Cowboys and another against the Eels.

The Cowboys should have been given a penalty when Kyle Feldt was pushed back into the in-goal while the next set North Queensland winger Enari Tuala pocketed the ball from Manly’s Moes Suli before racing up the field.

Tuala was penalised but Annesley said it should have been play-on because of a loose carry by Suli.

Annesley identified a knock on by Cronulla’s Kyle Flanagan in a contested bomb which eventually led to the Sharks scoring a try in the last play of the first half to have the Eels trailing by 14 instead of eight.

Annesley has also called for referees to try to identify more knock-back situations.

Originally published as Josh McGuire has run out of chances after second facial fine