Andrew Johns slams the NRL over sickening tackle that the footy legend found ‘hard to watch’

Footy great Andrew Johns has lashed out at the NRL after Roosters star Fetalaiga Pauga was handed a four-match ban after beating a rival with a shocking tackle on Saturday night.

The center was sent off after bringing down Connor Tracey late and high before being ruled out for four games for the hit, leaving the Bulldogs full-back so badly concussed that he cannot play this week.

‘Junior’ Pauga was hit with a high-level reckless endangerment charge on Sunday, meaning he will face a four-week suspension if he pleads guilty, or five weeks if he fights the charge in the judiciary and loses.

Johns told Channel Nine’s Sunday Footy Show that he was shocked by how lenient the suspension is.

Newcastle Knights premiership legend Andrew Johns (pictured) slammed the NRL for handing the Roosters star just a four-match ban for the ‘terrible’ tackle

‘Four weeks? One million percent [Pauga should have got more]said the Knights Premiership legend.

‘That was a stiff arm, an old-fashioned coat hanger. It’s hard to watch.’

Johns believes the goal is partly a result of the outside defenders being more aggressive in defense this season, such as Joseph Sua’ali’i with his terrible head shot on Reece Walsh in game one of State of Origin.

“When they’re jamming from outside in, the centers and wingers, to apply pressure, you’ve got to do it right,” he said.

‘We’ve seen it [Parramatta winger] Maika Sivo pinged a few times, obviously Sua’ali’i in Origin… but this one is terrible.

“How he didn’t break his jaw or, how Connor landed Tracey, how he didn’t tear his ACL [anterior cruciate ligament] or break his leg… that was terrible.’

Johns said he was very lucky that Pauga’s shot (pictured cleared for the goal) did not leave Tracey with a broken jaw or leg.

His fellow Greatest of the Game and Nine co-commentator Brad Fittler agreed.

“I don’t understand where they got those four weeks from,” the ex-NSW Blues coach said.

“I’ve seen Junior this year, he’s had a great season, but I think he’s slipping just before he gets to the chase. [Tracey].

“I’ve never seen anything like that in his game, but for four weeks,” Fittler finished, shaking his head in disbelief.

Broncos and Maroons great Sam Thaiday – who was on the panel with Johns and Fittler – agreed, saying: ‘Four weeks is pretty light for that type of tackle’.

The shot prevented Tracey (pictured sitting on the floor, centre) from playing for the Bulldogs against the Sharks this week

Pauga’s likely suspension means the Roosters could be forced to select a sixth-string replacement for him in the centres, and coach Trent Robinson was blunt about the tackle after the win over the Dogs.

“It wasn’t good,” Robinson said.

‘It’s not nice to see a player leave like that. It was tough, we don’t want that in our game from both sides.

‘It’s disappointing. He’s having a bit of a hard time there, Junior.

“There are things to work on there on the field with that tackle [and] then you have to make sure he doesn’t take it to heart for too long.’