NRL’s decision on Jarome Luai’s tackle sparks confusion among fans

It will be very interesting to hear how the NRL’s Head of Football Graham Annesley explains his Match Review Committee’s decision not to suspend Penrith playmaker Jarome Luai for his ugly tackle of Melbourne giant Nelson Asofa-Solomona at the weekend.

Luai was penalised and placed on report for his 47th-minute hit on Asofa-Solomona.

Luai though surprisingly avoided a stint in the sin-bin on a weekend where two players, Nathan Brown (Roosters) and Moe Fotuaika (Gold Coast), were both sent off for similar incidents.

Like Luai, Brown launched himself off the ground after rushing out of the line.

Rooster’s coach Trent Robinson was upset over Brown’s send-off, suggesting the NRL was sending “mixed messages” to fans.

Robinson made the point that while Brown’s hit on Ben Trbojevic was high, it was no worse than many others this season which had left players concussed but had not resulted in players being sent off.

Robinson also question why Trbojevic wasn’t punished for reacting to the tackle by throwing an elbow at Brown.

There is no doubt rugby league fans across the competition are confused as to how Luai escaped with just a penalty on the field and then without any suspension from the MRC which slapped him with a monetary fine.

These are indisputable facts.

ON REPORT: Will @PenrithPanthers Jarome Luai be in trouble? Dunno🤷‍♂️🐾 pic.twitter.com/Igc3tbG2au

— christian nicolussi (@mrchrisnico) August 4, 2023

Luai launched himself off the ground at Asofa-Solomona as he was pinned by two Penrith defenders.

Luai’s shoulder makes clear and direct contact with Asofa-Solomona’s head.

Luai made no attempt to use his arms in the tackle.

Luai hit Asofa-Solomona with force with his right shoulder. His right arm was down by his side and at the point of contact had both feet off the ground.

When referee Adam Gee eventually penalised him after being alerted to the tackle by his touch judge, Lui opened his hands and gestured like a choir boy: “What for?”

Later in the game, Luai complained to referee Gee that he had been slapped during an altercation involving Storm winger, Marion Seve.

Penrith coach Ivan Cleary meanwhile told reporters he didn’t have a clear enough view of the Luai tackle on Asofa-Solomona.

“I’ve only seen the one angle, I’m not too sure,” replied a smiling Cleary.

“It’s like a little fly against a giant, I dunno, we will have to wait and see.

Bookmakers meanwhile reacted to Penrith’s sixth straight win over Melbourne by trimming their premiership odds to as short as $2.20 while keeping Brisbane safe at $3.75 following their impressive victory over North Queensland without their skipper Adam Reynolds.

Storm coach Craig Bellamy praised Penrith’s ability to shut his side out of the clash with their possession game but lamented his team’s poor execution in the first half.

“Penrith is a very hard-working team, a disciplined team with a lot of very good players who can make things happen when they get the weight of possession and field position,” said Bellamy post-match.

“Their game plan isn’t too hard to see, but stopping it is another thing.”

“If we do happen to play them again, we will be a little bit better prepared.

“We knew what we were coming into tonight. We knew what sort of team they are and we knew what we had to do, but we just couldn’t get it done.

“We tried to take too many shortcuts and they (Penrith) will always clean you up if you do that.”

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