Wayne Bennett’s sneaky Luai jab as Dolphins star’s Origin hopes in jeopardy

Master coach Wayne Bennett has questioned how Jarome Luai escaped suspension for touching an official as Felise Kaufusi faces a nervous wait for an ugly swinging arm.

Wayne Bennett and Jarome Luai.

Master coach Wayne Bennett has questioned how Jarome Luai escaped suspension for touching an official as Felise Kaufusi faces a nervous wait for an ugly swinging arm.

The incumbent NSW five-eighth, Luai was handed an $1,800 fine after he was charged with contrary conduct for a brain explosion during the Panthers’ win over the Broncos.

While waiting for a try to be awarded, Luai made contact with official Chris Sutton before realising his mistake and immediately apologising.

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Little force was used but players in the past, including Brisbane legend Sam Thaiday, have been suspended for similar incidents.

Meanwhile, Kaufusi could be ruled out of the Origin series-opener after he was sent to the sin bin for a tackle on former teammate Christian Welch.

Bennett was asked in the post-match press conference whether his backrower should miss out on Queensland selection with a ban.

Wayne Bennett and Felise Kaufusi at a press conference earlier this season. Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images

He was quick to compare the two incidents and said he thinks Kaufusi has a “real good chance” of escaping with a fine.

“Wasn’t there a guy the other night who was an Origin player (who) touched a match official?” Bennett asked.

“Was there a guy, was that someone, was he an Origin player? He will be playing Origin next week, he got a fine didn’t he?

“Yeah… well if you look (at that) I think you’ve got a real good chance of getting a fine or not guilty.

“I would say for that (a fine is sufficient), even if he is charged.”

Only two minutes in, and Kaufusi has been sent to the sin bin for this dangerous tackle.

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Bennett also took a jab at the league-wide officiating by NRL referees, claiming inconsistencies have hampered the game.

“I didn’t take a great deal of interest in it because I didn’t put it in the malicious, vicious category or whatever you want to put it into,” Bennett said.

“Some go to the sin bin, some don’t go, you can’t pick who is going to the sin bin and who isn’t.

“Don’t do the offence, you don’t have to worry about all this stuff okay. After that who knows what is going to happen to you.”

Jarome Luai’s moment with a touch judge that resulted in a fine.

Former Maroons halfback Cooper Cronk explained that Kaufusi’s fate is in the hands of the Match Review Comittee and it could come down to the “roll of a dice”.

“The other thing Wayne said about Luai touching the official and getting off, well that gives us a little bit more hope that Felise might get off,” Cronk said.

“Who knows, because it is a roll of the dice … at the moment, you actually don’t know what the match review panel is going to hand out.

“Flip a coin and see how you go.”

Kaufusi has already spent time on the sideline this year, copping a four-week ban for a late shot on the Knights’ half Jackson Hastings.

Originally published as Wayne Bennett’s sneaky Luai jab as Dolphins star’s Origin hopes in jeopardy