Broncos prop Martin Taupau slammed for shocking NRL act

Commentators have reacted with shock and savaged Broncos prop Martin Taupau after a sickening knee lift against the Rabbitohs.

Martin Taupau was sinbinned for leading with his knee.

Broncos prop Martin Taupau can surely prepare for an extended stint on the sidelines after his bizarre and potentially dangerous move in Friday night’s clash with South Sydney.

Taupau was doing a simple hitup in the 29th minute of the clash on the Sunshine Coast when he raised his knee at the last second and drove it into Rabbitoh Campbell Graham.

Watch every game of every round of the 2023 NRL Telstra Premiership Season LIVE on Kayo Sports. New to Kayo? Start your free trial now >

It sparked a melee on the field and Taupau was sent to the sinbin, but all experts watching the incident believe he should’ve been sent off and faces a lengthy ban.

“It’s quite possibly one of the dumbest, most irresponsible acts that I’ve seen in recent years,” former Bronco Corey Parker told Fox League at halftime of the match.

“I can’t think of anything worse.

“Let’s put it into context. A lot of people would be having a laugh, but this is dumb and irresponsible.

Broncos prop Marty Taupau lifts his leg in the tackle of South Sydney’s Campbell Graham on the Sunshine Coast last night. Photo: Fox League

“Marty has taken a goose step into the contest and then has intent to raise the knee into the defender there being Campbell Graham. It’s a send-off.

“If that’s not a send-off, what is?”

The incident sparked memories of Parramatta’s Reagan Campbell-Gillard from just last week, who was handed a four-week suspension for dropping his knees into the back of Gold Coast’s Chris Randall.

Campbell-Gillard was also sin-binned before accepting an early guilty plea at the judiciary.

Cooper Cronk felt the referees should have made the obvious call over Taupau.

“I agree, it should’ve been a send-off,” he said.

"That's ridiculous! There's no reason for him to do that!.

Martin Taupau was sent to the sin bin for dangerous play.

📺 Watch #NRLSouthsBroncos on ch.502 or stream on Kayo: https://t.co/JULPAvfN6c
✍️ BLOG https://t.co/VxHNAat0o5
🔢 MATCH CENTRE https://t.co/mqoU9rNRSWpic.twitter.com/61h50LkHGL

— Fox League (@FOXNRL) July 21, 2023

“Easy option would be 10 in the bin. But this is going to be more than the four weeks that Reagan Campbell-Gillard got.

“He’s gone for a long time.”

Commentator Andrew Voss labelled the incident “ridiculous” during the telecast, while his co-commentator Greg Alexander was also mortified.

“If that connects with Campbell Graham in the jaw, it breaks his jaw.”

The NRL world was left appalled at the bizarre incident.

That's up there with the most dangerous offences we will see in the game. If it were up to me it'd be a send off. Would have to imagine it'd come with a pretty lengthy suspension. #NRLSouthsBroncos

— Jordan Patu (@Jordan_Patu) July 21, 2023

Marty Kapow trying to up his brand awareness. What was your take on his goose step from hell?

— This Week In League (@TWiLeague) July 21, 2023

Both coaches in the post-match press conferences also condemned Taupau’s knee, with Jason Demetriou questioning what is considered a send-off in the modern game.

“It’s dangerous, he gets his 10 in the bin. I don’t know what a send-off is these days - if you have to fracture someone’s skull before we take it serious,” Demetriou said.

“I thought they (the Broncos) handled it pretty well. We played 20 minutes against 12 men and the Broncos kept turning up for each other. I’ve got no complaints on how the game was refereed… It’s on us to own that.”

Broncos coach Kevin Walters revealed his veteran prop had received a warning regarding the technique during the week.

“He got a warning through the week and Marty was well aware of it. We’ve got to get that out of his game because I thought tonight for him starting he got a bit excited because he hasn’t started for us all year,” Walters said.

Walters was pressed on the warning and said: “A warning letter through the week from the NRL, which Marty was aware of. Marty’s not a dirty player but he’s certainly got to get that out of his game.”

- With foxsports.com.au