‘Horrid’: NRL announces ban for Rabbitohs player’s ‘dog act’

Taane Milne's horror tackle on Cam Munster. Photos: Fox Sports/Getty Images

The NRL has left commentators scratching their heads after announcing the suspension handed down over an ugly brain snap.

South Sydney winger Taane Milne has been hit with a two-week ban by the NRL over his cannonball tackle on Cameron Munster.

Milne has been widely criticised over the so called “dog act” and was labelled “dumb” by his coach Jason Demetriou following the Rabbitohs’ loss to the Storm in Melbourne on Thursday night.

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With just nine seconds on the clock and Souths trailing 54-20, Milne opted to lead with his head while diving into Munster’s legs in an awful tackle attempt.

Munster had made a fairly gentle hit up and was already being held up in a group tackle by three other Rabbitohs players when Milne made his staggering decision that led to an immediate sin bin from the referees.

Storm players were clearly furious about the act with Joe Chan running in to grab Milne by the scruff of the neck and pull him off Munster.

Despite the outcry, Milne will escape with a two-match ban with an early guilty plea.

The NRL judiciary report found the tackle was a Grade 3 dangerous contact incident. Milne will be banned for three weeks if the suspension is challenged at a judiciary panel and found guilty.

Taane Milne went into Cameron Munster's knees. Photo: Fox League.

The high profile NRL Physio account on X, formerly known as Twitter, called the NRL’s response to the ugly tackle as “pretty underwhelming” considering the earlier calls for a long term ban to be handed down.

The physiotherapist described Milne’s effort as a “horrid tackle”.

Rabbitohs coach Jason Demetriou didn’t hold back when asked about it after the game.

“It probably ends a dumb night on a dumb note,” he said.

“I thought he was trying to come in and got knocked down so I’ll have to have a look at it closely but (it’s) a frustrating way to end the game.”

Meanwhile, Dragons fullback Tyrell Sloan has avoided a ban despite being hit with two separate grade 1 dangerous contact charges, NCA NewsWire reports.

Sloan can escape with $2000 in fines if he takes the early guilty plea for both charges, which included lashing out in a tackle and kicking Sam Walker after he dragged him down near halfway.Gold Coast’s David Fifita has also been fined for a grade 1 dangerous contact charge in his side’s drought-breaking win, with the back-rower to pay $1800 if he takes the early guilty plea.

It was Milne’s charge that has caused the most discussion.

You can watch the horror incident in the video above

Cameron Munster of the Storm reacts as teammates rush in to confront Taane Milne. Photo by Daniel Pockett/Getty Images.

Storm legend Cooper Cronk said on Fox League the tackle was a “terrible, terrible effort”.

“It’s an ordinary effort from Milne with no time on the clock,” Cronk said.

“Diving below the knee. Doesn’t matter if it’s a gun player or not, you can hyperextend and that could be an ACL territory or some really long-term knee injuries.

“But that is a terrible, terrible effort there from Taane Milne.”

NSW State of Origin great Michael Ennis also said: “Viciously dangerous. You can’t do that. And it’s the intent in which he goes into the legs.

“He just spears in there, there was three or four seconds left in the game.

“It was completely unnecessary and the officials saw it that way, they got rid of him.

“They sin-binned him straight away and he’ll be in enormous trouble.”

Taane Milne's horror tackle on Cam Munster. Photos: Fox Sports/Getty Images

Fox League’s Dan Ginnane also pointed out the fact Milne has regularly featured on the NRL’s judiciary charge sheet in recent years for dangerous and careless tackles.

“This is going to end in a nasty fashion,” he said.

“Taane Milne saw a chance to put a shot on down low and he took it.

“Gee that’s ugly. Thank goodness Munster’s OK.”

Panthers great Greg Alexander speculated Milne will be facing a long suspension.

“There could’ve been a serious injury there,” he said.

“If Munster’s legs didn’t move backwards with the force that Milne hit him, well we could be talking about a broken ankle or something.

“He’ll cop a charge and it could be a heavy charge.”

AAP journalist Scott Bailey also wrote on Twitter: “Woeful, woeful tackle from Taane Milne.

“With Munster held upright and the last seconds ticking by, it was only ever putting a rival player at risk of injury and earning himself a long ban.

“Disrespectful to both Munster and his own teammates.”