The Cronulla Sharks’ commanding victory over the Canterbury Bulldogs may have given them momentum heading into the finals, but it has come at a significant cost.
Star halfback Nicho Hynes has been handed a one-match suspension following a hip-drop tackle on Bulldogs’ Marcelo Montoya, ruling him out of the Sharks’ crucial elimination clash against the Sydney Roosters.
The decision has ignited a heated debate across the NRL community, with numerous legends rushing to Hynes’ defence and urging the Sharks to challenge the suspension.
Fox League host Matty Johns was quick to voice his support for Hynes, insisting the star halfback should challenge the decision and arguing it was the wrong call.
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"I'd be fighting it. If I was Nicho, I'd be fighting it," Johns said.
"It happened so quickly and there was no intent there whatsoever."
While appearing on the Sunday Night with Matty Johns show, Melbourne Storm captain Harry Grant also weighed in, describing Hynes’ tackle as a routine cover attempt.
“He was making a cover tackle, I'd fight it,” Grant stated.
Even Bulldogs great James Graham agreed the ruling was harsh, suggesting that Montoya’s resulting injury – which will rule him out of this week’s vital clash for the Bulldogs – may have influenced the severity of the penalty.
"For me, it's a reaction that [Montoya] is going to miss next week," Graham said on Triple M.
"You observe that tackle and Nicho doesn't move in a position that is endangering the welfare and safety of the ball carrier.
"It is an accident.
"The causation is that he's making a regulation tackle.”