The North Queensland Cowboys experienced yet another blow as they faced a significant defeat at home against the Cronulla Sharks, who triumphed 36-12. Following this match, the Cowboys’ notable winger, Murray Taulagi, has been reported for a concerning high tackle on Sharks’ Jesse Ramien.
The incident occurred in the first half when Ramien received a pass from halfback Nicho Hynes. He was met with a powerful hit from Taulagi, which knocked him down immediately. The referee, Liam Kennedy, awarded a penalty to the Sharks and subsequently placed Taulagi on report for the high shot. During the commentary, Sharks legend Michael Ennis remarked on the risky pass from Hynes, suggesting it put Ramien in a vulnerable position.
Despite the referee’s decision, Taulagi remained on the field, leading to mixed responses among commentators. Veteran Andrew Voss voiced scepticism about whether the contact was truly high, questioning whether the reaction from Ramien would have differed had he been hit in a more dangerous area.
This incident comes on the heels of a rough outing for the Cowboys against Manly and highlighted further frustrations for a team that has struggled to find their footing. Taulagi’s performance has been scrutinised, especially with the absence of his former wing partner, Valentine Holmes, who has switched to the Dragons. Ennis noted that Taulagi had previously had strong chemistry with Holmes, which has been lacking this season.
Overall, the Cowboys are clearly facing more challenges, not just in terms of their on-field performance but also with potential repercussions from Taulagi’s actions during the match. The club will need to regroup and address these various issues moving forward.