- Jahrome Hughes risks a suspension for pushing the referee
- The Melbourne Storm star faces a two-match ban
- Andrew Johns believes it was all an accident
The NRL has threatened Melbourne halfback Jahrome Hughes with a two-match ban for shoving referee Chris Butler while trying to stop a try, but NRL legend Andrew Johns believes it was an accident.
In a bizarre postscript to Melbourne’s thrilling 30-26 win over the Warriors on Saturday night, Hughes was hit with a charge of unruly conduct on Sunday.
The charge relates to an incident in the second half when referee Butler was between Hughes and Rocco Berry as the Warriors center charged towards the line.
Replays show Hughes pushing Butler aside, with the referee hitting the ground before the Storm halfback tries to save an attempt.
AAP understands that the complaint only relates to the physical contact, with Hughes not claiming to have said anything untoward.
The NRL has threatened Jahrome Hughes with a ban for pushing referee Chris Butler
Replays show Hughes pushing Butler out of the way as the referee hits the ground
The incident caused chuckles from spectators and commentators at the time, but the NRL thought it was no laughing matter.
The Kiwi international will miss Sunday’s match with Newcastle due to an early guilty plea, and risks a second week out if he fights the charges and loses in the judiciary.
If found guilty, Hughes will be the first player to be sent off for contact with a referee since a spate of suspensions during an NRL appearance in 2016.
Hughes received support on Sunday from experts such as Brad Fittler and Andrew Johns.
“He wouldn’t have even looked,” Johns said of the Storm halfback on Nine’s Sunday Footy Show.
“He’s just watching (Berry). He doesn’t even look at the referee. He’s having a bit of a hard time there.
‘We have to protect the referees without any doubt. Especially at junior level… but for me that was an accident.”
Fittler questioned Butler’s positioning, saying Hughes had too little time to make a conscious decision in relation to the official.
Andrew Johns says Hughes has had a hard time and believes the act was an accident
Melbourne were without Hughes’ usual partner Cameron Munster for the first two rounds due to injury, but he has a chance to return against the Knights next week.
Butler was the second official to become embroiled in the game this weekend.
Canterbury were denied a try against Cronulla on Friday evening when referee Ziggy Przeklasa-Adamski was adjudged to have got in the way of the Sharks’ Braydon Trindall as he tried to stop Viliame Kikau close to the line.
There was contact between Trindall and Przeklasa-Adamski, but only during the player’s attempted tackle.
Hughes’ decision to push Butler did little for the Storm – while he slowed Berry close to the line, Marcelo Montoya scored on the next play.
Hughes is the only player considering a suspension from Saturday’s games.
Canberra duo Xavier Savage and Ethan Strange face fines after the Raiders’ win over Wests Tigers, but will be allowed to take on the Warriors on Friday night.
Tigers utility Aidan Sezer also faces a fine for a high tackle on Raiders fullback Jordan Rapana, as does Newcastle number 6 Tyson Gamble for his shot on North Queensland’s Tom Dearden.