Exclusive interview: Gold Coast Titans star Kevin Proctor says he didn’t bite Cronulla’s Shaun Johnson

Gold Coast captain Kevin Proctor is shattered after being sent off for biting New Zealand Test teammate Shaun Johnson. HIS ONLY INTERVIEW HERE

Titans' Kevin Proctor gets his marching orders at Kogarah Oval. Picture. Phil Hillyard

Titans skipper Kevin Proctor has broken his silence on Sunday to declare he did not bite Shaun Johnson and will “fight to the death” to defend his name and reputation at the NRL judiciary.

In his only interview on the saga, Proctor told News Corp of his devastation at the allegations and vowed to preserve his 12-year record as a cleanskin after being referred to the NRL judiciary for biting Sharks halfback Johnson.

Proctor became the first player in NRL history to be sent-off for biting an opponent, tainting his 250th-game milestone in the Gold Coast’s 30-18 loss to the Sharks on Saturday.

But Proctor will maintain his innocence and claims Johnson, his New Zealand Test teammate, even went to the effort of apologising to him after emotions ran high during an on-field spat between the pair.

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Titans' Kevin Proctor gets his marching orders at Kogarah Oval. Picture. Phil Hillyard

Television replays showed Johnson’s arm lodged near the face of Proctor, whose mouth makes contact in a desperate bid to avoid being choked.

Proctor claims he cannot breathe through his nose due to sinus problems which require surgery. Photographers captured a visible mark on Johnson’s arm but Proctor slammed suggestions it is a bite wound.

“I will be telling the NRL judiciary I didn’t bite Shaun Johnson,” Proctor said.

“My record in this game speaks for itself.

“I didn’t bite him, I am 100 per cent on that.

“I will fight to the death to clear my name.

“Rugby league has been going on for 112 years and no-one has ever been sent off for alleged biting.

“I’m so pissed off about this.

“To be accused of biting someone is the lowest thing you can face as a footballer.”

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Since his NRL debut in 2008, Proctor has been placed on report just once in his career for a dangerous throw in 2012. As it was a grade-one offence, Proctor escaped suspension.

Former Bulldogs prop James Graham was suspended for 12 games for biting Billy Slater in the 2012 grand final, but Proctor is adamant he did not intentionally attack Johnson and is seething at being dismissed by referee Henry Perenara.

Titans' Kevin Proctor and Cronulla's Shaun Johnson come together after Johnson was allegedly bitten by Proctor in a tackle. Picture. Phil Hillyard

The 31-year-old said he broke down in the sheds because he felt he had failed his Titans teammates as captain.

“It was a massive over-reaction from the refs in my eyes,” he said.

“I’m hoping the NRL can show some understanding on this.

“Being sent off and embarrassed for something I did not do was penalty enough.

“It was a weird situation. I felt like I was being choked. I could feel my mouth being forced open and the pressure on my throat was getting tighter and tighter. I was finding it harder to breathe.

“I couldn’t believe I would get sent off. I actually thought I was going to get the penalty for ‘Shauny’ putting his forearm around my throat and face.

First player in premiership history sent off for biting#NRLSharksTitans #Proctor

— David Middleton (@Middleton_David) August 15, 2020

“My honest answer is I didn’t bite Shaun. I have played 250 games of NRL and never been suspended. I have never bitten anyone in my life. I don’t want to be portrayed as a biter because no player in the NRL wants to be seen as a dirty player like that.

“I’m devastated because my 250th game will be remembered for me being sent off for biting someone. That dampens my achievement forever, it’s a sour ending to a milestone game.

“I am filthy that I let my teammates down. We were still in the battle, it was 12-all, and because of my send off we lost the game.”

Kevin Proctor says he didn’t bite Shaun Johnson.

Proctor and Johnson exchanged a savage war of words at the time of the incident but the Titans skipper said the pair sorted the issue out after the match. Proctor says the incident “happened so fast out there”.

“I ran at him and all I remember is his arm coming around my throat then face and mouth,” he recalled.

“He got up whingeing saying, ‘You bit me, You bit me’. I said, ‘Bullshit bro, I never bit you’. He said, ‘So you didn’t bite me?’ I said, ‘No way mate’.

“The ref then heard it and decided to get involved and sent me off.

“If Shaun has a mark on his arm, it could be from him forcing his arm into my face and mouth. It should have gone on report and dealt with after the game. It shouldn’t have been a send-off.

“I have played with Shaun in New Zealand teams for 10 years. We consider ourselves mates.

“We had a good talk after the game and Shaun actually said sorry to me. He said ‘Mate I didn’t want this to happen to you in your 250th game’. He didn’t think it was going to be more than a penalty. He felt bad that he played a part in me getting sent off.

“Not once did I think I would get sent-off. We were having a heated argument as mates do. When you know opposition players so well, you often have that banter to get one over them.

“I initially thought I got sent to the sin bin for 10 minutes. After that 10 minutes, I said to our football manager Anthony Laffranchi, ‘How many minutes left?’ and he said, ‘Mate you are gone for the game’.

“I thought the sin bin was bad, but when I realised I was sent off, I was gutted.”

Proctor said another factor in his clash with Johnson may have been his long-time sinus problems related to repeated nose breaks. He has seen doctors and specialists to explore sinus surgery to clear his airways.

Kevin Proctor and Shaun Johnson after the match.

“I actually have breathing problems because my nose is a mess,” he said.

“I’ve broken it that many times. I’ve seen specialists about my sinus problems. I breathe through my mouth. There is no air that goes in or out of my nose.

“I’ve looked into surgery and I can’t have my nose repaired until my career is over.

“It’s hard me to breathe day to day but that’s the price I’ve paid as a professional league player.

“I would never intentionally go into a game to bite someone. It shouldn’t have been a send-off.”

The Titans are supporting their captain and will defend the charge with coach Justin Holbrook saying the matter now rests with the NRL judiciary.

NSW Origin coach Brad Fittler told Channel Nine he felt Proctor was the victim of an awkward tackle.

“Poor old Kevin Proctor — the bloke has his forearm right down his throat,’’ Fittler said.

“What are you supposed to do? His mouth ws around his arm but he did not really have a chance for it not to be.

“I feel sorry for Kevin Proctor that a bloke’s forearm is sitting straight across his lip.”

Originally published as Exclusive interview: Gold Coast Titans star Kevin Proctor says he didn’t bite Cronulla’s Shaun Johnson