It was a moment that saw one of the most lamented blights in rugby league rear its head but, refreshingly, a cracking sledge arise.
Bulldogs prop Jack Hetherington all but certainly pulled off his greatest theatrics when he was collected high by Dragons hooker Andrew McCullough just in front of the posts late in Canterbury’s upset victory at Stadium Australia.
While McCullough’s left forearm appeared to only kiss Hetherington’s nose, the young Bulldog stayed down after the tackle and got up clutching at his face.
That prompted referee Gerard Sutton to blow his whistle, before the Bulldogs snaffled up two points through a Jake Averillo penalty goal.
As Sutton went about diffusing the situation, burly Dragons front-rower Blake Lawrie, hands on hips as he sucked in the big ones, treated viewers to a ripping one-liner.
“I had respect for you before that,” Lawrie was heard saying to Hetherington on Fox League’s coverage.
Commentator Dan Ginnane had a chuckle.
“Good banter,” he laughed.
But former Panthers captain Greg Alexander couldn’t see the funny side, leaning into a heated spray over Hetherington’s milking.
“That is the dilemma that we have with the game at the moment. Who makes the decision on whether someone is injured or not injured?” Alexander said.
“If you make contact with the head and stay down it leaves officials with no option but to blow a penalty. If Jack Hetherington gets to his feet and plays on, the game moves on.
“I’ve said it a number of times: the laying down is not a good look. I don’t like it, I just don’t like it, it doesn’t look good.”
McCullough was also heard voicing his frustration in the thick of the drama, saying: “F—ing bulls–t.”
Milking has tested the referees more than ever since the ARLC’s crackdown on high contact was enforced in Magic Round.
Former Maroons and Kangaroos lock Corey Parker said it was inevitable.
“That was always going to be the issue, wasn’t it? As soon as there is contact to the head and players are aware of it they’re just going to lay down,” Parker said.
“Blake Lawrie and Andrew McCullough were certainly letting him know.”
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