Wallabies star Hunter Paisami has been suspended for three matches following a tackle in the Queensland Reds’ 56-36 triumph of Moana Pasifika.
The inside centre was not penalised following his attempts to stop Lalomilo Lalomilo from scoring, the collision forcing the rival outside back from the field and leading to Paisami’s dangerous tackle charge.
But upon review, the Super Rugby Pacific Foul Play Review Committee intervened, leading former Wallabies centre Morgan Turinui to say on Stan Sports’ Between Two Posts he was “very surprised the citing officer has cited Hunter Paisami”.
A Super Rugby Pacific judiciary update confirmed the committee “determined the mid-range entry point of six weeks/matches was appropriate”.
“In light of the player accepting he committed an act of foul play as well as mitigating factors such as an exemplary disciplinary record, the FPRC applied the full 50 per cent reduction in sanction,” the statement read.
Reds coach Les Kiss also believed the incident did not warrant a suspension. He said he was shocked by the decision, given the attention paid to it by the referees without a penalty.
“We certainly feel for Hunter and our first thought was to protect Hunter.
Wallabies centre Hunter Paisami has accepted a three-match suspension.Credit: Getty Images
“We considered a lot of things deep into the night; we asked for an extension about how we can approach this because we were keen to protect the situation and fight it.
“However, time pressures just get on top of you, and we probably didn’t want to take the risk going further with it.
“We did [believe the tackle was OK], and the referees did, but that’s the situation. There’s a right situation in place, and we follow the process, and it’s landed as it has.
“The independent referees we talked to around the globe certainly considered it was something that’s possibly into the space that it didn’t need to go where it did.
“However, that’s not for me to cast judgment on those things, it’s just the opinions are there, and we tried to consider the best way to go forward with this.”
Paisami will avoid serving the full term of his ban by completing World Rugby’s Coaching Intervention program, which would make him available for the Reds’ round-five clash with the Waratahs as a substitute.
But his ban has left Kiss searching for a No.12 for the coming contests against the Western Force and Crusaders, both away from home, with Isaac Henry still recovering from a ruptured ACL.
Harry McLaughlin-Phillips and Dre Pakeho will come into consideration, while Test flyer Filipo Daugunu is an option to move infield, with Lachie Anderson taking his place on the wing.
Isaac Henry was injured in a match against the Melbourne Rebels last March.Credit: AFP
Queensland co-captain Liam Wright is in line to make his comeback from shoulder surgery, however Lukhan Salakaia-Loto has not fully recovered from a leg injury.
Reports suggested Salakaia-Loto was on the verge of inking a long-term deal to remain in Australian rugby, with Kiss confirming those discussions were nearing a conclusion.
“We’re just waiting to finalise all those things, and hopefully, we can enter some sort of statement in the next couple of weeks,” Kiss said.
