NRL greats left dumbfounded as Tom Burgess is suspended for the rest of the season for everyday tackle

Andrew Johns and Phil Gould led a chorus of rugby league greats who questioned the NRL court’s decision to slap South Sydney star Tom Burgess with a lengthy suspension for a controversial hit.

The Rabbitohs Prop will miss the remainder of the NRL regular season following a three match suspension for his high tackle on Cronulla’s Tom Hazelton.

The shot sent veteran Rabbitoh to the sin bin on Saturday night in the final five minutes, fueling a South Sydney comeback and confirming a 26-16 loss in Perth.

Hazelton left the field for a head injury assessment after collecting Burgess’s shoulder to his head and did not return.

However, Johns and Gould argued that the tackle did not warrant the suspension.

The South Sydney star made contact with the Cronulla player’s head with four minutes left

“He (Burgess) doesn’t hit him (…) there’s no contact with the head,” Johns said on Nine’s coverage.

“It’s all chest to chest—there’s a little whiplash.”

Gould added, “I think it’s too harsh. It’s big man on big man.

“His side is 10 down with four (minutes) left to play (…) I don’t see anything wrong with that tackle.”

Speaking on Fox Footy, Queensland great Mal Meninga was similarly unimpressed by referee Todd Smith’s decision to sin bin Burgess.

What’s wrong with being aggressive? What’s wrong with stepping off the leash and coming in on purpose? I’m not quite sure,” he said.

Former Storm and Rooster’s great Cooper Cronk, meanwhile, noted that contact between Burgess and Hazelton was minimal.

Andrew Johns (left) questioned the decision to sin Burgess and insisted the tackle had been minimal, while Phil Gould (right) said the yellow card was too harsh

“He (Burgess) has flown out of line and it looks like bodies are colliding.

“Does Hazleton get direct contact with the chin? I’m going to say no. Is there contact? There may be a light.

“If there’s anything to deal with, it’ll be minimal, I think.”

Souths coach Jason Demetriou did not dispute the sin bin but insisted it was ‘not clear’ whether Burgess had made contact with Hazelton’s head.

“I liked the intent, but you can’t make contact with the head,” he said

“It wasn’t clear if he was making good contact with the head, but I’m not going to argue. I’m not going to argue tonight about a single (referee) decision.’

Since Souths has a bye during the final four weeks of the regular season, Burgess will be unavailable until the Finals if he pleads guilty to his second-rate careless high tackle offense early on.

It comes as a major blow to the Rabbitohs, who are unsure of qualifying for the finals and will miss Burgess’ work rate in the middle of the park.

Burgess’s rating was the same props Nathan Brown and Moeaki Foutaika received for high shots that resulted in send-offs rather than sin-bakes earlier this weekend.

Souths boss Jason Demetriou said he had no problem with Burgess’ sin bin

Although Brown and Fotuaika are only suspended for one game, Burgess’ record has made his sentence worse. Since round 20 last year, Burgess has been charged with a careless high tackle three times before.

If he unsuccessfully challenges his suit in court, Burgess could miss the first week of the finals if Souths can qualify.

The Rabbitohs will be hoping fellow center forward Jai Arrow isn’t sidelined alongside Burgess.

The Queensland representative left Saturday’s loss in the second half after suffering back spasms, but Demetriou did not believe the injury was serious.