Rival coaches Trent Barrett and Trent Robinson had vastly different takes on Jack Hetherington’s tackle on Victor Radley late in Saturday’s clash between the Bulldogs and Roosters.
Hetherington was penalised and placed on report for the bone-jarring hit on Radley in the 75th minute of the Roosters’ 22-16 victory.
The match review committee will ultimately decide Hetherington’s fate – but Barrett and Robinson sounded like they were talking about two different tackles at their post-match press conferences.
“The Jack Hetherington penalty under the sticks wasn’t a high tackle and I’ve had a really good look at that,” Barrett declared.
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Robinson saw it differently.
“It was high,” Robinson quipped.
When a reported suggested Hetherington’s tackle may have bounced off the ball before making contact with Radley’s head, the Roosters boss replied: “I think it was high. (We are trying to eliminate contact to the) head and neck, it hit him in the head and neck.
“It’s pretty clear as far as I can see.
“I haven’t gone back and had a look at it again, but yeah.”
Asked if the fiery prop is targeted by referees due to his lengthy rap sheet at the NRL judiciary, Barrett replied: “I’ve said that before and I don’t really want to that route again but that was a good tackle and he rocked him.
“We don’t want to take that away out of our game I don’t think and there should be nothing come of it but it’s disappointing, yeah, and he gets frustrated with it.”
