Sharks centre Siosifa Talakai was lucky to escape a sin bin after an ugly late tackle on Panthers five-eighth Jarome Luai in the first half of the second preliminary final.
In the 35th minute of the first half with the Panthers leading 8-2 and on the attack, Luai turned the ball back inside before being absolutely flattened without the ball by Talakai.
Corey Parker noted in commentary the lateness of the hit and the fact Luai was unmoved on the ground.
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“Luai hasn’t moved,” Parker said on Fox League.
“Talakai absolutely levelled him. Little inside ball from Luai who finds Alamoti and he just absolutely cops it in the back.
“This could be big here. Six minutes to go in the first half and Talakai flattened him.”
Dan Ginnane initially believed Talakai could be headed to the sin bin for the late hit, which drew the ire of the Panthers players.
“Luai taken out and seeing that immediately was the winger Turuva and Penrith are filthy,” Ginnane said.
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“The Bunker will be looking at this and it is really just a matter of how late and is it just a penalty?”
However, referee Ashley Klein and the Bunker found a penalty was sufficient, but placed Talakai on report.
“On report and that’s it,” Ginnane said.
Cooper Cronk believes Talakai was lucky to avoid a sin bin.
“I think he is a little lucky there Talakai because that was late,” Cronk said.
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“There was aggressive intent, shoulder contact to the back on Jarome Luai. Didn’t miss him at all.”
“You’re spot on Cooper, there was aggressive intent, it was late and he had the opportunity to pull out of the tackle,” Parker added.
Michael Ennis and Mal Meninga agreed it should have been 10 minute spell for Talakai at halftime.
“I thought he should have been sin-binned,” Ennis said.
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“He had time to pull out of that. It was a late shot.”
Meninga added: “I think he was lucky to stay on the field.”
Cleary slotted a penalty goal to make it 10-2 to the Panthers at the break.
Social media lit up with pundits and fans condemning the tackle.
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