NRL fans can’t believe Jarome Luai has escaped scrutiny for a similar incident as Dylan Brown.
NRL fans have questioned why Wests Tigers star Jarome Luai avoided a charge for colliding with the referee during the Panthers game, while Eels five-eighth Dylan Brown is set for a week on the sideline for a similar incident. The Eels went down 30-12 to the Bulldogs on Monday with Lachlan Galvin stealing the show having scored a try for his new side in the final few moments of the game.
The Bulldogs retained top position in the ladder with the win, while Parramatta remain in 16th after another defeat. And coach Jason Ryles is facing another setback with playmaker Brown to spend a week on the sideline after what appeared to be an accidental collision with the referee during the game.
The Eels put the ball high in the air and Brown appeared to chase the kick with his eyes on the Steeden. However, referee Gerard Sutton stopped his run when he became close to the play.
Brown is accused of colliding with Sutton, which sent the referee tumbling. While little was made of it during the game, Brown was slapped with a one-game suspension from the NRL match committee and accepted the ban. But to make matters worse for Eels fans, Luai appeared to escape a charge for a very similar incident during the Tigers’ loss to the Panthers on the weekend.
Jarome Luai avoids charge for referee collision
Just one minute into the game against his old teammates, Luai found himself in a similar situation as Brown. Nathan Cleary put up a bomb and Luai came across the field to offer support for his Tigers teammates in defence.
Looking at the ball in the air, Luai also collided with the referee and sent him tumbling. While it was deemed an ‘accident’ by the Channel Nine commentary team, Luai escaped any punishment from the NRL match committee.
There appeared to be very little difference between Brown and Luai’s collisions, which left fans confused. Melbourne Storm dummy-half Harry Grant and Cronulla fullback Will Kennedy also copped suspensions when accused of pushing referees last year.
Many felt Brown didn’t deviate his line and was looking at the ball the whole time. Sutton’s sudden stop also brought him into contact with Brown sooner than the Eels playmaker might have thought if he was planning on coming to a halt himself. One fan wrote: “Luai ran into a referee yesterday and everyone laughed. Brown gets charged. This is why everyone is so annoyed.”
Lachlan Galvin praises Bulldogs fans
Ryles will be facing a tough decision if Brown is out with halves partner Mitchell Moses backing up from State of Origin. While Ryles was frustrated, Bulldogs coach Cameron Ciraldo was impressed with his side’s performance. And new signing Galvin was even more impressed with the fans who came out to support him after such a turbulent few months.
“It was (a relief). For the fans to get behind me (after) being here a week only is pretty cool,” Galvin said. “That’s all in the past now.
“I just want to come over here and play good footy and enjoy my footy, that is the main reason I play and the reason I want to be here. Walking over from the hotel (before the match) was pretty cool. It’s going to be a good journey and something I want to be part of.”
