NRL star should have been sent off for ‘dog shot’

Footy fans couldn’t believe a Roosters bad boy avoided being sent off for cowardly punching a rival when he had no way to protect himself.

This isn't what the Roosters needed.

Roosters star Daniel Suluka-Fifita came under fire for a “dog shot” on Souths enforcer Jai Arrow as the Rabbitohs ran riot in a 26-16 win on Friday night.

The Bunnies scored three unanswered tries in the first half of the blockbuster derby as the fiercest rivalry in the NRL provided plenty of fireworks — including a brain explosion from bench forward Suluka-Fifita.

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Looking to inspire his side as it copped an onslaught in a dismal first half, the 21-year-old took things too far and was sin binned for punching Arrow in the back of the head.

After being taken to ground in a tackle, Arrow was surprised to feel Suluka-Fifita’s fist make contact with his noggin. The Rabbitohs star smartly stayed down and as replays showed Suluka-Fifita’s incredibly stupid act, referee Ashley Klein had no option but to send him from the field for 10 minutes.

Some on social media thought the tri-colours star was lucky not to be sent off.

Isaac McIntyre tweeted: “He has to go for that, and not for 10 — if punching someone in the back of the head in a tackle isn’t a red, what is?”

Journalist Bernie Coen wrote: “What a dumb dumb bit of footy from @sydneyroosters Suluka-Fifita.

“@sydneyroosters coach Trent Robinson should tear Suluka-Fifita to shreds … he cost them a defender and a try.”

Chris Coleman said on Twitter: “I’m doing my refereeing accreditation right now. The official word is ZERO TOLERANCE, a punch at any level is a send off. How does this not happen?”

This isn’t what the Roosters needed.

Broncos legend Gorden Tallis ripped into Suluka-Fifita for punching Arrow when he wasn’t even looking.

“You want them to go to the red line, but that’s overstepping the mark,” Tallis told Fox League at halftime. “That’s not tough.

“It’s hard when you’re frustrated, you think, ‘What does my team need me to do?’ That’s not what your team needs you to do.

“The bloke isn’t even looking at you, he’s looking at the ground.”

Former NSW star Luke Lewis was ropeable. “That’s a send-off for me,” he told ABC radio.

“You’re punching a guy on the ground with a closed fist in the back of the head.

“That is a dog shot.”

Suluka-Fifita’s ill discipline hurt the Roosters badly, as they conceded a try while down to 12 men.

The Bunnies maintained the rage in the second stanza, building on their 18-0 halftime lead as Cody Walker crossed for his second four-pointer to make it 24-0.

Roosters fullback James Tedesco got the Bondi boys on the board to reduce the margin to 18 and some late consolation tries flattered Trent Robinson’s men but the Bunnies were far more dominant than their eventual 10-point victory suggested.