‘I’m dumbfounded and I’m stunned’: Corey Parker calls out ‘ludicrous’ Haumole Olakau’atu ban
Queensland legend Corey Parker says he’s “dumbfounded and stunned” that Haumole Olakau’atu was only banned for two matches following the melee during the State of Origin decider while South Sydney has been “punished” by Cameron Murray’s ban according to caretaker coach Ben Hornby.
The duo were suspended for their involvement in the brawl that spilled over the sideline and near the Queensland bench.
Murray wasn’t on the field at the time but rushed over to protect Jarome Luai, while Olakau’atu wasn’t even playing in the game after he was named 19th man for the Suncorp Stadium decider.
Queensland captain Daly Cherry-Evans was outraged Murray was only sent to the sin bin and wasn’t sent off, but Parker has taken aim at the match review committee for not coming down harder on the Manly edge forward who was forced to leave the field for the rest of the contest.
Camera IconHaumole Olakau’atu was wearing a suit when he ran in and got involved in the melee. Channel 9 Credit: Supplied
“Cameron Murray has been suspended for two weeks. I can cop that because at that point in time, he was on the bench,” he said.
“Olakau’atu is dressed in his Sunday civvies in a suit and is then involved in the melee. It’s 100 per cent unacceptable,” he told SENQ.
“A player not even in the game is getting a two-week suspension. It’s completely unacceptable. It’s ludicrous. He should get six weeks at least.
“We cannot have somebody not involved in the game at all being involved in a melee like that.
“Did he throw a punch? No, but he had Valentine Holmes around his neck.
“If this was Goodna v Brothers down the road and someone was dressed in plain clothes and involved in a melee, they would get a life ban.
“It can’t happen yet we are happy for a two-game ban to be thrown on Olakau’atu because he’s a player? He didn’t even play in the game. He shouldn’t have been anywhere near it.
“I’m dumbfounded and I’m stunned.”
Camera IconCameron Murray will miss two games for Souths for his role in the melee. NRL Photos Credit: Supplied
Murray’s ban means he’ll miss South Sydney’s game against the Wests Tigers in Gosford, but interim coach Hornby was keen to avoid answering whether it was unfair for his team to lose their skipper for an incident out of Origin.
“I want to stay completely out of it. Someone else can deal with that. We’ve just got to deal with the game tomorrow,” he said.
“It’s a tough one. It spills over onto their bench and he goes in to help his mate.
“We get punished for it, but we’ve got to move on. Our boys get the chance to show what they can do, so I’m looking forward to seeing what they can do.
“He’s disappointed because he’s going to miss two games. It’s a great opportunity for Liam (La Blanc) to come in and show what he can do again.”
With Murray out, Tallis Duncan will start and Le Blanc will join the bench as the Bunnies look to stay in touch with the top eight after they had their winning streak snapped by the Dolphins last week.
They’ll also be without Jai Arrow for the rest of the season after he finally had shoulder surgery, with Hornby not regretting the call to put his veteran under the knife even if he would have been the perfect replacement on the edge.
“We just thought that Jai had done such a good job for us to hang on for as long as he did, but it was time to repay him,” he said.
“We’re getting some back-rowers back – Cam going out is a bit of a spanner in the works for us – but I’m more than confident with the players that we’ve got that we can go out and do well.”
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