Panthers boss asks NRL fans to rate which tackle was worse

Penrith general manager Brian Fletcher has had enough of the “garbage” NRL judiciary — and has called on Daily Telegraph readers to judge which of these three tackles deserved the bigger punishment. VOTE NOW!

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Angry Penrith group general manager Brian Fletcher has asked for these three photographs to be shown — and he wants you to judge which is worse.

Fletcher said the entire NRL judiciary process should be “thrown in the garbage” after South Sydney’s Sam Burgess had his ugly high tackle on Cronulla’s Matt Moylan downgraded to free him to play in Sunday’s big match against Melbourne.

Penrith forward Viliame Kikau last month received a two-game suspension for what many felt was an innocuous hit on Dragons halfback Darren Nicholls.

However, Manly’s Jake Trbojevic avoided suspension with an early guilty plea after a dangerous throw on Melbourne’s Jahrome Hughes in round 19.

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Which of these tackles looks worse to you?

“You should put three pictures in the paper of the three tackles — Kikau, Trbojevic and Burgess — and get the public to vote on it one to three in severity — which is the worst, second worst and least worse,” Fletcher said.

“I am sure I know how they would finish. Trbojevic would be worse, for sure. He lifted a player. And then Burgess, that goes without saying. And then third being Kikau.

“When you vote one to three, Trbojevic and Burgess are a lot worse than Kikau yet we got double the suspension and the other two get off.

“Our fan base couldn’t even believe Kikau was ever charged, let alone suspended. No one in our rugby league department could believe he got charged.

“For our bloke to get suspended and those two to get nothing, it just doesn’t make sense. And to the general public, it just doesn’t make sense.”

In a day of drama on Wednesday:

● Panthers chairman Dave O’Neill vented his frustration during a phone call to NRL chief executive Todd Greenberg;

● Greenberg was “surprised” at the verdict and promised an end-of-season review into the judiciary process;

● Moylan felt “fuzzy and groggy” this week and failing a protocol test on Monday, according to Cronulla officials;

● Greenberg was “bashed” on social media, according to Fletcher.

Greenberg has come under fire for the inconsistency. Photo: AAP Image/Dean Lewins

“Our chairman spoke to Todd Greenberg,’’ Fletcher said. “Todd fully understood there was a problem with the system and comparing those tackles.

“To go there (to the judiciary) and have the sentence doubled, from one week to two, and then you see what has happened after that, it’s very disappointing.

“We had two very important games and we lost our star player for two weeks. Good luck to Manly and Souths for their players getting off but the system needs reviewing to bring some fairness into the decisions.

“The system they have doesn’t work so you’ve got a good starting point. You throw that in the garbage and start new. It’s got to be better than the one we have.”

The Burgess has caused plenty of outrage. Photo: AAP Image/Bianca De Marchi

The NRL wasn’t commenting on the Burgess verdict but it is known that Greenberg told O’Neill he was “surprised” by the verdict.

“From our point of view, it’s very disappointing,” Fletcher said. “This glaringly shows you there is something wrong with the system. If you don’t fix it, and we allow it to go on, then that won’t do the game any good.

“Todd said he was getting bashed on social media about the decision. It is disappointing for our fans.”

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Fletcher was also annoyed that Panthers five-eighth James Maloney received a one-week suspension for tripping on Tuesday night — an offence deemed far inferior to the swinging arm of Burgess.

“Jimmy’s was innocuous, whether it was a trip or not,” Fletcher said. “He gets a week, whereas Moylan was unconscious before he hit the ground and is out of this week’s game, while Burgess gets off. That’s what we can’t understand.

“Here we are again, we lose Maloney. If there was a fine attributable then that should go to Maloney, not Burgess. I don’t think you’d have an argument there in the rugby league world.”

Cronulla coach John Morris did not return calls to update Moylan’s health.