Wests Tigers v Sydney Roosters: Martin Taupau sin binned late as Chooks run riot
MARTIN Taupau was sin binned for a high tackle labelled a “cheap shot” by commentator Peter Sterling, causing emotions to boil over in the Roosters win.
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UPDATE: WESTS Tigers enforcer Martin Taupau was under fire on Friday night for a late “cheap shot” on a defenceless James Maloney in the Roosters’ 33-8 victory.
On a night when the competition favourites finished strongly but hardly set the world on fire to secure their 6th straight victory, Taupau finished in the sin bin and on report for an ugly 76th minute swinging arm. The incident sparked an immediate push and shove between rival players and debate among league legends Peter Sterling, Brad Fittler and Andrew Johns.
Sterling labelled it a “cheap shot” while Johns and Fittler argued it made another case for the no-punch rule to be reviewed.
While Roosters heavyweights Aidan Guerra and Jared Waerea-Hargreaves wanted to step in to hand out their own justice in the heat of battle, Taupau will face a nervous wait to see what charge the match review committee hits him with on Monday.
Trent Robinson said: “I thought it was unnecessary. “I’m not sure about the time off field (in the sin bin). It is not common in our game.
“But it was pretty intentional and it was a stiff arm so I thought it was just unnecessary.”
Maloney was diplomatic with his verdict but said these type of incidents are not a good look for the game.
Asked if this was another case to bring back the biff, Maloney said: “I don’t think I’d be barking up that tree (in respect to taking on Taupau).
“Look, in that case I suppose you don’t really need that erupting but there has definitely been a lot more niggle since it has gone.
“There is guys picking on guys they wouldn’t if they could get a clip.
It is just the way it is I suppose.”
Waerea-Hargreaves added: “I guess that is what you do as a front-rower. You always have the support of your younger halfbacks or
little halfbacks.”
But Waerea-Hargreaves was also surprised Taupau was sin binned. “Oh, no I don’t think he should have got sin binned to be honest with
you,” Waerea-Hargreaves said.
“I just think it was a bit of footy, give the penalty and play on.”
The moment overshadowed an otherwise gutsy effort from the young Tigers who hung in for as long as they could against a team that simply had too much class, power and experience.
Jason Taylor said: “I am really disappointed.
“We have been harder on ourselves than we probably have been all year after that one because we were good enough to win that game.
“And I think we should have won it.
“I know the scoreboard in the end was a long way from that but that game was four tries to two for a long, long time and we just kept dropping the ball.
“We beat ourselves tonight.
“I don’t feel that the Roosters beat us and that is a great place for us to be in when you consider where we have been in a lot of games this week.”
The Roosters eventually raced in five tries to two to remain in thirdspot while the Tigers are anchored at the bottom of the ladder after 5th straight loss.
Rookie winger Brendan Elliot finished with a fine double while Sam Moa, Boyd Cordner and Daniel Tupou were the other try scorers.
Maloney also continued his outstanding form with the boot, kicking six from six and landing a field goal.
And with a cloud now hanging over Taupau’s immediate future, Chris Lawrence is also in trouble with what Taylor fears is a serious ankle
injury that forced him out of the game after two minutes.
“It is fairly bad, we don’t know exactly,” Taylor said of the injured veteran.
“The physio said that there is an old injury in his ankle ligament that he injured a few years ago and it is the same similar area.
“Obviously he will need a scan.”
SYDNEY ROOSTERS 33 (B Elliot 2 J Maloney S Moa D Tupou tries J Maloney 6 goals J Maloney field goal) bt WESTS TIGERS 8 (P Richards J Tedesco tries) at ANZ Stadium. Referee: Jared Maxwell, Gavin Morris. Crowd: 10,186.
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Originally published as Wests Tigers v Sydney Roosters: Martin Taupau sin binned late as Chooks run riot
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