Dangerous tackle that earned Fainu a three-game ban was his third in two years

The Latu Fainu tackle that NRL lawyers said could have resulted in Leo Thompson “breaking his neck” was the third time in the last two seasons the Wests Tigers playmaker had placed a rival player in a dangerous position.Fainu was handed a three-match ban after being found guilty of dangerous contact at the judiciary on Tuesday night after going low on Thompson and flipping the Canterbury prop upside down and into a vulnerable position.Latu Fainu’s tackle on Leo Thompson.NRLWhile some commentators questioned what Fainu had done wrong, Tigers coach Benji Marshall conceded on Thursday the club would need to work on the halfback’s tackling technique, with his ban now paving the way for rookie Javon Andrews to make his debut on Saturday in what is sure to be a spicy contest against Canberra.Though Fainu received public support for his tackle, the 21-year-old was penalised for an identical tackle on New Zealand Warriors prop Mitch Barnett in round four last year. The tackle, which was penalised at the time, led to a melee and Fainu was later sent a concerning act notice by the NRL.Then, against Canberra in round 26 last season, Fainu went low again and left Raiders centre Simi Sasagi clutching at his knee. Sisagi got up and Fainu was not penalised, but he was handed a second concerning act notice.The referee could be overheard telling angry Raiders players the tackle was not a “cannonball”.Andrew Johns said on Nine’s Sunday Footy Show about Fainu’s tackle on Thompson: “He’s done nothing wrong, he’s tackled low. You can’t take accidents out of the game ... it’s not even a penalty.”“You can’t tackle high because you’ll chin them … and you can’t go low? Where are you supposed to hit them?”Eels legend Nathan Hindmarsh was more to the point when he said on Sunday night with Matty Johns: “That’s bulls–t. That’s a joke.”Judiciary panel members Tony Puletua and Paul Simpkins were satisfied Fainu’s tackle was dangerous and careless, and that he “had every opportunity to attempt a conventional tackle, but chose not to do so; the result was to place player Thompson at a serious risk of injury”.The vacancy opened up by Fainu’s suspension means Andrews, 19, is expected to be given his NRL debut after some impressive performances in NSW Cup.The last time the Tigers and Canberra met, Tigers fans mocked the Viking clap and started an unsavoury “f--- Canberra” chant, while Sunia Turuva and Tom Starling had to be separated after full-time, with the drama captured on TV footage.It was reported at the time a sledge of “snitch” had sparked the melee, apparently in reference to Starling’s long-running court battle with police after an incident on the Central Coast.Starling was charged with assaulting police at the end of 2020 but had the charges dropped, with two police officers now charged with assaulting Starling. The pair pleaded not guilty and the matter is before the courts.Tom Starling and Sunia Turuva clashed after full-time the last time Wests Tigers and Canberra played.NRLTigers prop Fonua Pole was expecting a frosty reception on and off the field at GIO Stadium, and remembered the fulltime drama last time.“But I don’t see any of that stuff as negative, it’s part of the game, you show passion, you go on to the field to win, the guys on the other team are your opponents while you’re on the field, but as soon as you step off the field, everyone has respect for each other,” Pole said.“[As for the Canberra crowd], that’s how the game goes, and if you give it, you have to take it. Hopefully, we’re not on the other side of that. If we’re winning and playing well, they won’t come out with that.”News, results and expert analysis from the weekend of sport sent every Monday. Sign up for our Sport newsletter.From our partners