Roosters Trio Fined After Fiery Clash with Rabbitohs
A trio of Sydney Roosters stars, David Fifita, Siua Wong, and Lindsay Collins, have collectively copped $4,000 in fines following their hard-fought victory over the South Sydney Rabbitohs. The penalties were issued after two of the players were placed on report during a particularly intense opening to the match.
The disciplinary action against Wong and Collins came within a rapid succession of tackles, highlighting the fierce nature of the early exchanges.
Early Drama and Controversial Tackles
As the Rabbitohs attempted to break out of their own territory, Lindsay Collins delivered a thunderous hit on Campbell Graham. While the tackle was initially deemed legal on the field by referee Adam Gee, it has since come under scrutiny. Collins has now been formally charged for the incident.
In the very next tackle, Siua Wong launched himself out of the defensive line to confront Jack Wighton, who was carrying the ball. Wong missed his mark in the aggressive challenge, leading to a brief scuffle as tensions threatened to escalate. The Roosters were penalised for the ensuing breakdown.
Commentators on Nine’s coverage, including NRL legends Billy Slater and Andrew Johns, debated the officiating of these early tackles.
Billy Slater initially questioned the decision not to penalise Lindsay Collins on-field, noting the lack of a clear “wrapping motion” in the tackle. He then drew parallels between Collins’ hit and Wong’s subsequent charge.
Andrew Johns expressed surprise that Siua Wong was only placed on report, suggesting he was fortunate to avoid a more severe penalty. Johns remarked that Wong was lucky not to have made head contact, which could have resulted in an “early shower” for the player.
Slater agreed with Johns’ assessment of Wong’s proximity to a more serious infraction. Post-match, Slater elaborated that he believed Wong might escape further sanction due to successfully avoiding direct head contact.
“At worst, maybe a fine, I’d be happy with a penalty,” Slater had predicted regarding Wong’s situation.
Fines Issued for Shoulder Charge and High Tackle
Slater’s prediction proved accurate, as Siua Wong was subsequently fined $1,500 for a grade one shoulder charge. Lindsay Collins received an identical penalty for his involvement in the earlier tackle.
Fifita’s Late Tackle Results in a Fine
The disciplinary issues for the Roosters didn’t end there. In the second half, David Fifita was penalised for collecting Robert Toia high. The Roosters centre remained on the ground following the contact, indicating the impact of the tackle.
Andrew Johns described the incident as a “really tough one,” particularly given Fifita’s size. He drew a comparison to a previous tackle involving Chanel Harris-Tavita, who was knocked out after going low in a different match.
Fifita was placed on report for his high tackle. Despite his efforts to argue that the contact was primarily to the chest, he was ultimately fined $1,000 for a grade one careless high tackle.
