Taumalolo chances of Dally M repeat take a nosedive at Sportsbet

Reigning Dally M medallist Jason Taumalolo chances of going back-to-back are in tatters according to Sportsbet.com.au after the online bookmaker wound the Cowboy star out to $26 for the award.

The gun forward was one of the main elects in the market prior to the suspension at the $10 quote.

The 23-year-old was cited for a shoulder charge against Brisbane Bronco Alex Glenn, but elected to take his case to the tribunal after he was offered a one-game ban.

The Kiwi risked a two-game suspension by going to the judiciary but failed to have the decision overturned, which means Taumalolo will now miss the next fortnight of action against the Manly Sea Eagles and Gold Coast Titans.

Jason Taumalolo being rubbed out for two weeks is a bit of a joke but I’m excited to see Shaun Fensom get a crack

— Jarryd Hackett (@jhack97) March 14, 2017

The suspension was the first of its kind in 2017 after the NRL declared they wanted to eradicate the act from the game.

The condemnation of the ban was almost universally panned.
Former NSW representative Jamie Soward believes Taumalolo’s hit was not worthy of the penalty he received.

“I don’t think that’s a two week penalty,” Soward told Fox Sports’ The Back Page.

“I just think he’s so big he just uses the front of his body and sometimes we just need to take common sense in and just look at it.

“Yes it’s probably a shoulder charge but not one of those bad ones.”

Channel 9 Rugby League expert Phil Gould echoed Soward’s sentiments, tweeting that the decision to suspend the New Zealand international was “wrong”.

2017 Dally M betting market

Odds provided by Sportsbet.com.au

Corey Norman – $7

Johnathan Thurston – $9

Cooper Cronk – $10

Mitchell Pearce – $11

James Tedesco – $11

Cameron Smith – $13

Luke Keary – $15

Matt Moylan – $15

Anthony Milford – $19

Mitchell Moses – $21

Josh Hodgson – $23

Shaun Johnson – $26

Darius Boyd – $26

Jason Taumalolo – $26

Andrew Fifita – $29

Roger Tuivasa-Sheck – $29

James Maloney – $31

Tom Trbojevic – $34

Daly Cherry-Evans – $34

Aaron Woods – $34

Adam Reynolds – $34

Bevan French – $34

Ryan James – $41

Jarryd Hayne – $41