Latest news with #ReubenCotter
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
'Normally a suspension': Loophole comes to light as Jarome Luai learns punishment
Jarome Luai and Zac Lomax have both escaped with fines after ugly incidents in State of Origin 2 - and it's all because of a unique loophole in the NRL system. Luai and Lomax were both put on report in the first half of NSW's 26-24 loss to Queensland on Wednesday night. Luai grabbed the face of Maroons forward Reuben Cotter in what appeared very close to an eye-gouge, while Lomax lashed out and elbowed Trent Loiero in the head after a tackle. Luai was cleared of an eye-gouge by the NRL match review committee, and was slugged with a $3900 fine rather than a suspension. The NSW five-eighth was hit with a grade-two contrary conduct charge for unnecessary contact with an opponent's face. But under the NRL's punishment system, incidents that occur in Origin and finals games carry lighter sanctions. If the Luai incident had occurred in an NRL game, he'd normally be hit with a suspension. But because it happened in State of Origin, it's only a fine. The system was brought in so players' clubs aren't unfairly affected by their actions in representative games. It also prevents players being banned from finals games for incidents that aren't overly serious. Luai's $3900 fine is 13 per cent of his $30,000 match payment. Lomax was charged with grade-one dangerous contact and fined $21000 (seven per cent of his match payment). Luai's return to the Origin arena was overshadowed by the incident with Cotter. Queensland fullback Kalyn Ponga made a raking action to sideline officials after witnessing Luai's actions, and he appeared very lucky to escape a suspension. Andrew Johns said "it looked bad" in commentary, while NSW coach Laurie Daley defended the incident after the match. "I thought it was just a facial," Daley said. "We saw a fair few of them in Game 1 too." View this post on Instagram A post shared by NRL on Nine (@nrlonnine) The incidents with Luai and Lomax were part of a historic run of nine-straight penalties that Queensland received to start the game. The penalty count was 8-0 at half-time, and when the Maroons received their ninth it was the first time that had ever occurred in a State of Origin game. Referee Ashley Klein copped plenty of backlash for his performance, although NSW did win the six-again count 6-2 and had 55 per cent possession. When asked about the 10-2 penalty count after the game, Daley momentarily remained silent before eventually responding: "I can't tell you what I really think". RELATED: Panthers rocked as two-time premiership winner signs with Perth Bears Andrew Johns proven right as Billy Slater hailed over 'masterstroke' Blues captain Isaah Yeo admitted his team weren't disciplined enough and only had themselves to blame. "There were certainly a few we were shooting ourselves with and they're just penalties," Yeo said. "Some others were 50-50s. Some nights you get them and some nights you don't. But what you can't do is just go drop the ball in the next set when you've got the ball. You would obviously like that to be a bit more even, but we were our own worst enemies at time." Queensland surged out to a 26-6 lead at half-time, and NSW fell agonisingly short of their greatest comeback in Origin history with 18 unanswered points in the second half. Goal-kicking proved a massive difference, with Lomax only managing two conversions after the Blues outscored Queensland five tries to four. with AAP
ABC News
2 days ago
- Sport
- ABC News
State of Origin: Maroons' Reuben Cotter claims he wasn't eye-gouged by Blues' Jarome Luai
Queensland forward Reuben Cotter says he was not eye-gouged by NSW's Jarome Luai in State of Origin II. Luai was given a grade 2 contrary conduct charge for making unnecessary contact with Cotter's face in a tackle during NSW's 26-24 loss in Perth on Wednesday night. The charge came after Queensland fullback Kalyn Ponga appeared to accuse Luai of eye-gouging in the first half. Cotter had dived on a loose ball when Blues prop Payne Haas lost possession, before Luai drove into the Maroons second-rower on the ground. His hand appeared to make contact with Cotter's face as the pair pushed each other off, before Ponga made a raking motion to sideline officials. Luai was placed on report but cleared of an eye-gouge by the NRL match review committee and instead handed a $3,900 fine. Cotter said he had no issue with the incident. "I didn't get eye-gouged at all," Cotter said. "He (Luai) just came in with his elbow or his shoulder, I'm not sure what he came in with. "I just stood up for myself, tried to push him off me." Cotter was sporting a heavy lump to his eye in the Maroons' dressing room after the match. But he said that came from a clash with Liam Martin late in the second half. NSW players and coaches defended Luai, who was penalised following the incident. It was one of eight penalties the Blues gave away in the first half, while they finished the match on the wrong side of a 10-2 count. Blues coach Laurie Daley opted not to comment on the penalty count, claiming he could not say what he really thought on the matter. But Blues captain Isaah Yeo conceded NSW had to wear some of the blame for the ill-discipline. "There were certainly a few we were shooting ourselves with and they're just penalties," Yeo said. "Some others were 50-50s. Some nights you get them and some nights you don't. "But what you can't do is just go drop the ball in the next set when you've got the ball. "You would obviously like that to be a bit more even, but we were our own worst enemies at times." AAP
Daily Mail
3 days ago
- Sport
- Daily Mail
Footy fans lash out as the NRL makes a shock move over one of Origin's most controversial moments
Jarome Luai has been cleared of an eye gouge, but will still face a fine of close to $4000 from the NRL for rubbing Reuben Cotter's face in State of Origin II. Luai's Origin return threatened to be overshadowed by the incident on Wednesday night, after his hand rubbed across Cotter's upper face in NSW 's 26-24 loss. Queensland fullback Kalyn Ponga then made a raking action to sideline officials, before Luai was placed on report by referee Ashley Klein at Optus Stadium in Perth. Luai was hit with a grade-two contrary conduct charge, which AAP understands was for unnecessary contact with an opponent's face. That would ordinarily result in a ban, but due to rules for Origin and finals matches Luai can accept a fine of $3900. NSW coach Laurie Daley defended the incident after the match, following the Blues' failed comeback from 26-6 down. Many footy fans believe that the Blues star should have got a harsher penalty 'I thought it was just a facial,' Daley said. 'We saw a fair few of them in game one too.' However, footy fans are shocked he wont miss a single game. 'What an absolute joke,' wrote one X user in response to the verdict. 'Fines for putting your finger in someone's eyes,' posted another. 'That's insane, wow,' posted a third. Another posted: 'So has Luai got away with eye gouging with a fine? Wow.' Luai had an unhappy opening 40 minutes after being called back into the NSW team for the injured Mitch Moses, putting his first kick out on the full. But like most of the Blues, he was far better in the second, helping lay on three tries for NSW. NSW winger Zac Lomax is also facing a fine of $2100, after elbowing Trent Loiero in the face as he got up to play-the-ball. The incidents summed up the first 40 minutes of the game for NSW, who conceded eight penalties before the break and didn't receive one. The count ended 10-2, in a dramatic reversal from the series opener when NSW won both the penalty count and match. Asked about the count, NSW coach Laurie Daley momentarily remained silent before eventually responding: 'I can't tell you what I really think'. Blues captain Isaah Yeo conceded the fault still laid with his own team. 'There were certainly a few we were shooting ourselves with and they're just penalties,' Yeo said. 'Some others were 50-50s. Some nights you get them and some nights you don't. 'But what you can't do is just go drop the ball in the next set when you've got the ball. 'You would obviously like that to be a bit more even, but we were our own worst enemies at time.'
Daily Mail
3 days ago
- Sport
- Daily Mail
See the shocking video that has made Jarome Luai public enemy No 1 in Queensland - as NSW star learns his fate
Jarome Luai has been cleared of an eye gouge, but will still face a fine of close to $4000 from the NRL for rubbing Reuben Cotter's face in State of Origin II. Luai's Origin return threatened to be overshadowed by the incident on Wednesday night, after his hand rubbed across Cotter's face in NSW 's 26-24 loss. Queensland fullback Kalyn Ponga then made a raking action to sideline officials, before Luai was placed on report by referee Ashley Klein at Optus Stadium in Perth. Luai was hit with a grade-two contrary conduct charge, which AAP understands was for unnecessary contact with an opponent's face. That would ordinarily result in a ban, but due to rules for Origin and finals matches Luai can accept a fine of $3900. NSW coach Laurie Daley defended the incident after the match, following the Blues' failed comeback from 26-6 down. 'I thought it was just a facial,' Daley said. 'We saw a fair few of them in game one too.' But some fans on X disagreed. 'Hudson got 5 weeks for eye gouging…. This was clear and obvious!!! need to be consistent and suspend him for minimum 5 weeks!!' one fan wrote on X. Another wrote: 'How is he still on the field.' 'Not even a single bin for an eye gouge like honestly,' one fan wrote. 'Why is he not sent off,' another added. Luai had an unhappy opening 40 minutes after being called back into the NSW team for the injured Mitch Moses, putting his first kick out on the full. Footy fans took to X to question why Luai wasn't sent off for the incident during the first half But like most of the Blues, he was far better in the second, helping lay on three tries for NSW. NSW winger Zac Lomax is also facing a fine of $2100, after elbowing Trent Loiero in the face as he got up to play-the-ball. The incidents summed up the first 40 minutes of the game for NSW, who conceded eight penalties before the break and didn't receive one. The count ended 10-2, in a dramatic reversal from the series opener when NSW won both the penalty count and match. Asked about the count, NSW coach Laurie Daley momentarily remained silent before eventually responding: 'I can't tell you what I really think'. Blues captain Isaah Yeo conceded the fault still laid with his own team. 'There were certainly a few we were shooting ourselves with and they're just penalties,' Yeo said. 'Some others were 50-50s. Some nights you get them and some nights you don't. 'But what you can't do is just go drop the ball in the next set when you've got the ball.
News.com.au
3 days ago
- Sport
- News.com.au
‘Disgusting': NRL world up in arms over ugly Jarome Luai ‘eye gouge'
NSW star Jarome Luai has come under fire for a suspected eye gouge on Queensland enforcer Reuben Cotter in State of Origin Game 2 on Wednesday night. Midway through the first half, Luai put his hands all over the face of the Maroons back-rower, with his fingers appearing to rake across his eyes. FOX LEAGUE, available on Kayo Sports, is the only place to watch every game of every round in the 2025 NRL Telstra Premiership, LIVE with no ad-breaks during play. New to Kayo? Get your first month for just $1. Limited-time offer. The act landed the Blues playmaker on report but no further action was taken. The Channel 9 commentary team also breezed past it. But those watching on at home were up in arms, questioning how Luai wasn't at least sin-binned as they called out the nasty act. 'Disgusting eye gouge from Jarome Luai. No place in the game for that. Commentators should be calling that out instead of going silent,' one fan commented on X. 'So none of the commentators are gonna mention the blatant eye gouge by Luai?' asked another. You can watch the suspected Jarome Luai eye gouge in the player above. 'Well, Luai won't be playing for the Wests Tigers for a few weeks. That's our season done,' a Tigers fan wrote, hinting at the likely long ban the half could receive if it was found to be an eye gouge. While a fourth added: 'I'm absolutely shocked that Luai didn't get 10 for the blatant eye gouge. Gobsmacked.' The 28-year-old's act wasn't the only incident to be called out by Maroons fans either, with Blues winger Zac Lomax placed on report shortly after Luai for lashing out with his elbow after a tackle from Trent Loiero. 'On report. You lashed out and hit him in the head,' referee Ashley Klein was heard saying. Safe to say the Blues' extra aggression drew the ire of fans, particularly those wearing Maroon. 'Can someone explain why Lomax doesn't go to the bin for elbowing Loiero in the face?' one fan wrote. 'That is terrible. Luai eye gouge and then that from Lomax. I thought Queensland was the team meant to be feeling the pressure,' another added. 'Absolutely shocking from Lomax,' a third said.
