Maroons selectors are sweating after Titans enforcer Tino Fa’asuamaleaui appeared to raise a forearm into the face of Bulldogs hooker Reed Mahoney.
Fa’asuamaleaui surprisingly went unpunished by both referee Chris Butler and the Bunker for the contact, which occurred midway through the first half of the Titans’ 20-18 loss to the Bulldogs.
Mahoney – who had moments earlier been put on report for a hip-drop tackle – was forced from the field for a HIA, which he fortunately passed.
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In commentary for Fox Sports, league great Shane Flanagan was shocked that Fa’asuamaleaui wasn’t punished, but suggested the Match Review Committee might still get involved.
“The forearm straight into the face of Reed Mahoney from Tino. You can’t do that,” he said.
“We’re going to hear more about this.”
Speaking post-game, Fa’asuamaleaui defended the act – blaming the contact in part on the vast size difference between the pair.
“It’s a contact sport. Obviously, I’m running as fast as I can and Reed is getting off the line as fast as he can,” he said.
“He’s half my size so obviously it’s going to be hard not to get away with a shoulder or whatever is in front of his face.
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“I’m just glad that he got back on the field alright.”
Surprisingly, Mahoney believed the hit “probably looked a lot worse than it was”.
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“Big Tino was just trying to get his team forward. It looked like his elbow hit my jaw but I don’t think there was anything in it – there was no intent of him trying to target my head,” he said post-match.
“It was probably more my fault than his fault so I don’t think there was anything wrong with it, he should get off.”
The Bulldogs trailed for the first 77 minutes of the clash before Jayden Okunbor scored after a brilliant scrambling effort from the Bulldogs.
Matt Burton was in form in live play as two of his bombs led directly to tries, while another of his kicks led to Okunbor’s match-winner.
The win lifts them off the bottom of the ladder, relegating the Dragons to last on for-and-against, despite their win over the Roosters on Friday.
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