Tigers star Martin Taupau facing four-week ban for high tackle on James Maloney

MARTY Taupau has revealed he made a beeline for the Roosters’ sheds night to apologise to James Maloney for his swinging arm.

Tigers Martin Taupau is sent to the sin bin during the Wests Tigers v Sydney Roosters rugby league game at ANZ Stadium, Sydney. Pic Brett Costello

MARTY Taupau has revealed he made a beeline for the Sydney Roosters’ sheds on Friday night to apologise to James Maloney for the swinging arm that earned him a three-match suspension.

Taupau’s swinging left arm on Maloney during the Tigers’ 33-8 loss to the Roosters was described as a ‘‘cheap shot’’ by the Channel 9 commentary, and led to him being sin-binned late in the game.

The Kiwi international said he made sure he reached out to Maloney later, and let him know there was no ‘‘malice’’ in the hit that sparked a melee.

“After the game I went over to the Roosters’ dressing rooms, shook hands with all the boys, and I apologised to Maloney,’’ Taupau told The Daily Telegraph.

Taupau could miss up to four matches.

“I told him, ‘there were no intentions of hurting you, and I was just trying to get the ball’. I was trying to create something for the boys.

“When I was sent to the bin, I wasn’t out there for the final whistle and that was the reason I went into their sheds.

“It was disappointing the way I went about the tackle. There was a lot of frustration there. As a group we played really well for the first 40 minutes, but as you know it’s an 80-minute game and we were up and down.

“Whatever the match review committee hands out to me, I’ll cop it on the chin.”

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Taupau said he was shocked to be given 10 minutes in the bin. As for the ‘‘cheap shot’’ label, Taupau said: “I don’t care what they label it’’.

Taupau’s grade three dangerous contact charge carried a three-match suspension with an early plea and four matches if he had elected to fight the charge and lose.

Tigers chief executive Phil Moss was spotted breaking the news to Taupau as a club media day finished up on Monday. Taupau featured in all the promotional photos for this weekend’s Superhero round.

He will be a big loss for the Tigers, who are at the bottom of the ladder and trying to avoid a sixth straight loss when they host Melbourne on Friday night.

Meanwhile, Bulldog Josh Reynolds was hit with a grade one dangerous contact charge for his attempted charge-down on Valentine Holmes. He faced a one-match ban but will miss a month regardless because of a knee injury.

Brisbane’s Adam Blair is facing two to three weeks for a shoulder charge.

Originally published as Tigers star Martin Taupau facing four-week ban for high tackle on James Maloney