Canberra coach Ricky Stuart has spear tackled the NRL’s match review committee following their exoneration of Manly star Jake Trbojevic.
Trbojevic will be free to play against Newcastle next week should he take the early guilty plea for a dangerous throw in Saturday’s thrilling win over Melbourne.
The Sea Eagles lock was hit with a grade-one charge for his tackle on Storm fullback Jahrome Hughes during golden point at AAMI Park.
It came just two weeks after Stuart was left seething over a similar incident involving Raiders winger Nick Cotric that resulted in a three-game ban.
“Personally for me, I commend the match review committee because I reckon they got young Trbojevic’s right,” Stuart said.
“It was an accident, the same way Nick Cotric’s was an accident.”
Stuart went on to claim that the constant changes around interpretations of tackles had left the game in dangerous territory.
He also pointed to an accidental crusher tackle by Penrith veteran James Maloney as proof that the referees must continue to use common sense.
“Obviously I’d love to get a penalty there. But for the game, we don’t need to get the penalty there because it was a complete and pure accident,” Stuart said.
“We’re getting too many people put out of the game because of accidents.
“We have to have to have common sense in regards to our interpretation towards a number of incidents.
“The send-off of young (Kalyn) Ponga the other night was a disgrace. You don’t need that in our game. It was an accident.
“When there’s intent to hurt somebody, to actually put a person on his head, to hit someone high, they’re the things that have got to be dealt with.”
The Raiders win over Penrith was their sixth in their past seven games, and consolidates fourth spot on the ladder with 26 points.
While Canberra remain in striking distance of title fancies Melbourne, South Sydney and the Sydney Roosters, Stuart insisted his men were still a rung below.
“We’re not there yet to be quite honest,” he said.
“It’s a matter of getting there on the day, to semi-final football. It’s a matter of getting into a healthier position on the table.
“We’re not there yet and don’t deserve that.”
