Marty Taupau tries to bite Roosters player

THE West Tiger’s 25-point loss to the Roosters wasn’t the most embarrassing moment of their NRL match, as one player bit off more than he could chew.

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - JULY 24: Martin Taupau of the Wests Tigers laughs as he leaves the field after being given ten minutes in the sin bin during the round 20 NRL match between the Wests Tigers and the Sydney Roosters at ANZ Stadium on July 24, 2015 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)

WITH five minutes to go in the match and his side down 27-8, one Wests player resorted to shock tactics in an attempt to turn the tables for his side.

As James Maloney ran the ball up for the Roosters from within his own half, the playmaker turned and fell to the ground as notorious hard-hitter Marty Taupau flopped down on top of him, taking a swinging arm to the halfback’s jaw.

An obvious cheap-shot on a much smaller player, Taupau appeared to ball his fist in a tackle which will no doubt see him sitting on the side lines for a few weeks to come.

Naturally, Maloney’s teammates reacted to the tackle in a fashion all too familiar to the rugby codes, and a short stint of jersey-grabbing and name-calling ensued.

Already in trouble for the swinging arm, Taupau managed to make matters worse with an incredible brain snap.

Bearing a grin and a white mouthguard, the Tigers forward motioned as if to bite the fist of a Roosters player that had grabbed his jersey in the huddle.

Martin Taupau sent to the sin-bin...how long do you get suspended for a fake bite? https://t.co/DPh3wwiOGz #NRLTigersRoosters

— Sportsbet.com.au (@sportsbetcomau) July 24, 2015

While the notion may have been intended in a jovial manner, it’s fair to say Taupau has had brighter ideas, given the NRL’s zero-tolerance biting policy.

The powerful forward was then put on report by referee Jared Maxwell and sent to the sin bin for the remainder of the match.

@mathassa that was such a brain dead move by Taupau. Him v JWH and it's only a matter of time before someone loses the plot

— Toby Funke (@Bouka87) July 24, 2015

Terrible shot from Taupau but apparently the bin is back now too. Typical Maxwell making up the rules as he goes.

— BC (@BCurran81) July 24, 2015

Dog shot from Taupau but typical NRL. Sin binning someone when the game is already over....

— Tom Castleton (@tomcastletonFOX) July 24, 2015

The Roosters secured their sixth successive NRL win, beating the Tigers 33-8 at ANZ Stadium, with Brendan Elliot scoring two tries.

The Tigers stout defence coupled with poor handling from the Roosters kept the home side in the contest at half-time 8-4, before the Tricolours clicked into gear in the second half.

The visitors scored three-tries-to-one in 20 minutes after the break through Elliot, Sam Moa and James Maloney to move the score to 26-8 and put the result beyond doubt.

The win keeps the Roosters sitting comfortably in the top four with six rounds of the regular season remaining, while the Tigers remain rooted to the foot of the NRL ladder.

Rival custodians Roger Tuivasa-Sheck and James Tedesco were the best for their respective sides, with Maloney coming into his own for the Roosters after the break following a slow first half in front of 10,186 fans.

Daniel Tupou opened the scoring out wide for the Roosters in the 14th minute following an early penalty goal from Maloney, with Tedesco sprinting over for the Tigers’ reply in the 26th minute. But with both sides struggling to complete their sets, that was the way things remained until half-time.

The Roosters forwards gained the ascendancy after the break with Siosiua Taukeiaho helping to take his side forward. Curtis Sironen tried hard for the Tigers.

A 71st minute Maloney field goal stretched the Roosters lead before Elliot, who was playing on the right wing for Shaun Kenny-Dowall, crossed for his second try just before full-time. A Pat Richards try in the 59th minute was the only time the Tigers troubled the scorers after the break.

Chris Lawrence limped off in the second minute for the Tigers with an ankle injury and didn’t return.

— with AAP

Originally published as Marty Taupau tries to bite Roosters player