Martin Taupau of the Brisbane Broncos has not been charged despite inadvertently striking Canberra Raiders winger Jordan Rapana in the head with his knee.
In the Broncos’ subsequent 20-14 loss against the Raiders, a contentious penalty against Taupau cruelly cost them a last-minute opportunity to tie the game.
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In the last seconds of the game, Taupau was chasing through an Adam Reynolds bomb when he unintentionally struck Raiders winger Jordan Rapana in the head with his knee.
Rapana dropped the ball right away after the impact, causing blood to spurt from her skull.
That would have handed the Broncos a new set ten meters out, but Taupau’s play was judged to be irresponsible by referee Grant Atkins, earning the Raiders a penalty.
The match review committee decided against charging the experienced forward, though.
On the field, Atkins addressed Broncos captain Adam Reynolds, saying, “Marty’s hands are well above but he put his knees in a careless position and it was a careless action.”
After receiving medical attention for more than five minutes, Rapana’s jersey was covered in blood and he was eventually hauled out.
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Although they were sympathetic to Rapana’s situation, Dan Ginnane and Steve Roach of Fox League didn’t agree with the punishment.
Ginnane remarked of Rapana, “He looks like a man in a world of pain.”
“What the referee said was careless.
Determining what Taupau could have done is difficult.
That is a pivotal decision for the game. This is not examined if Rapana is not on the ground.
“Taupau could not have done anything. It’s entirely coincidental,” Roach remarked.
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