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Gorden Tallis backs no penalty call on hair pull Knights Dom Young

The Knights have blown up just before halftime after a hair pull on winger Dom Young, but league great Gorden Tallis was having none of it.

Maika Sivo's hair pull of Dominic Young.
Maika Sivo's hair pull of Dominic Young.

The Knights were frustrated not to get a penalty for a hair pull from Eels winger Maika Sivo on Newcastle counterpart Dom Young, but Gorden Tallis was having none of it.

The Knights copped a crucial penalty on Tyson Frizell for a hair pull on Jarome Luai in the Panthers’ 16-15 golden point win over Newcastle in Round 7.

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The memory of that decision had Young calling for a square-up in the Knights’ clash with the Eels, but referee Chris Sutton didn’t deem the action worthy of a penalty.

“This was not a penalty, but definitely looked like a hair pull there from Maika Sivo on Dom Young,” Yvonne Sampson said on Fox League.

“No drama there?”

Tallis was heavily critical of the penalty against Frizell in Round 7 and didn’t believe Sivo should have been penalised either because he was grabbing at Young’s jersey and accidentally got his hair.

“Play on,” Tallis said of Sivo’s effort.

“His hand is at the back of his jersey. If your hair comes down low and it is part of your uniform it is play on.

Maika Sivo's hair pull of Dominic Young.
Maika Sivo's hair pull of Dominic Young.

“The tackle I did with Brett Hodgson doesn’t happen because I grabbed his collar.

“If it is part of your uniform and he goes to grab it and it is right at the top of his shoulders.

“If he grabs him above his ears that’s a hair pull. If you grab someone below the collar you are grabbing his jersey.

“I see Newcastle’s frustration because Frizell got done for it a couple of weeks before and it is an accidental hair pull, but if you go to grab his jumper and you get your fingers caught up in his hair it is play on.”

Michael Ennis couldn’t resist a dig at Tallis over his own flowing locks.

“No drama grabbing your hair big fella,” Ennis quipped.

“Sometimes my eyebrows might get caught up in it,” Tallis shot back.

Originally published as Gorden Tallis backs no penalty call on hair pull Knights Dom Young

Original URL: https://www.ntnews.com.au/sport/nrl/part-of-your-uniform-tallis-backs-call-on-sivos-hair-pull-on-young-despite-knights-frustration/news-story/1a79ee5d461c369ded5ff9988b215127