Cronulla coach Shane Flanagan slams NRL match review committee after Marty Taupau’s grade two charge

CRONULLA coach Shane Flanagan slammed the NRL’s match review committee, saying the lack of consistency is “ridiculous” and “frustrating”.

CRONULLA coach Shane Flanagan slammed the NRL’s match review committee, saying the lack of consistency is “ridiculous” and “frustrating”.

Flanagan hit out after the grade two careless high tackle charge on Manly’s Marty Taupau, who whacked Cronulla’s Jack Bird across the head in Monday night’s match at Brookvale Oval.

Many fans felt Taupau should have been sent-off.

While Bird was taken off, the big forward not only remained on the field but will now miss just one game with an early plea.

Bird was still “feeling the effects” on Tuesday, according to Flanagan.

Flanagan was bewildered at the Taupau charge.

“He (Taupau) definitely got him,’’ Flanagan said. “For me, it was more than a (week). But that’s what they have graded it as. I don’t want to get into gradings because I disagree with a lot of them a lot of the time.

“(Taupau) must have a clean record if he is only getting a week for a shot like that. Gradings have always been an issue for me.

“Some of things players are missing games for are really tough — lifting above the horizontal, touching a referee — and then you get one like this ... one game for that. It’s just not comparable.

“I don’t want to see any player suspended but gradings are always debatable. Some of the gradings you see, blokes are getting clipped and they miss a game for it. It’s ridiculous.

Taupau was quick to check on Bird after the hit.

“In particular, (Cronulla forward) Chris Heighington, he did a really good copy-book legs tackle and accidentally flipped him (Bronco Ben Hannant in round one) above the horizontal and he missed a week.

“If you compare apples with apples, that’s disappointing. That’s where it gets frustrating for a coach.”

Despite his disappointment with the grading, Flanagan did not think Taupau should have been sent off.

“Well we haven’t seen too many of them for a while,’’ Flanagan said. “It will be interesting to see what takes a send off. He (Taupau) was definitely guilty of clocking him in the head but was a deliberate act? I can’t say that. I don’t think it was a send off on Monday night.”

Bird was still recovering on Tuesday.

“He is still feeling the effects of it. He will go through the concussion protocol this week and hopefully pass those tests and should be OK,” Flanagan said.

Given the Taupau case may still end up at a judiciary hearing, the NRL refused to comment on Flanagan’s criticism.

Taupau and Bird exchanged tweets after the game.

@MartyKapow algood brother no hard feelings.. Well done tonight buddy 👍🏼

— Jack Bird (@JackBird_1) March 21, 2016

There has been just one send-off in the past 942 days.

Newcastle’s Kade Snowden was dismissed on August 23, 2013, with the only other being Canberra’s David Shillington in round 22 last year for a headbutt.

Meanwhile, Parramatta’s Kieran Foran (contrary conduct, no suspension), Penrith’s Jeremy Latimore (dangerous contact, head/neck, one week), Panthers teammate Sam McKendry (high tackle, careless, no suspension), Wests Tigers’ Chris Lawrence (dangerous throw, one week) and South Sydney’s Kirisome Auva’a (dangerous contact, head/neck, no suspension) all pleaded guilty.

Newcastle’s Sione Mata’utia (grade one, dangerous throw) has pleaded not guilty while Souths’ Paul Carter (grade two, dangerous contact) will seek a downgrade. Taupau and Manly teammate Brenton Lawrence (grade one, dangerous contact) have until Wednesday to lodge a plea.

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Originally published as Cronulla coach Shane Flanagan slams NRL match review committee after Marty Taupau’s grade two charge