The match review committee has given its verdict on the ugly tackle that divided the NRL world last night, slapping Storm forward Felise Kaufusi with a Grade Two charge for using his elbow in a tackled that knocked out Ryan Matterson.
Matterson has been cleared of serious injury but was heavily concussed and does not remember the incident that ruled him out of the rest of last night's pulsating encounter that the Eels won 16-12.
While many thought Kaufusi should have been sin binned or sent off over the incident, with ugly vision of the tackle appearing to show the illegal use of his elbow, the Queensland star was merely penalised and placed on report, allowing him to stay on the field.
After reviewing the incident, the match review committee deemed it serious enough to warrant a two-three match ban, with Kaufusi charged with a Grade Two dangerous contact offence.
If he enters an early guilty plea Kaufusi will be sidelined for two weeks, however should he choose to fight the charge the 28-year-old will risk a further week out.
Boos rang out at Bankwest Stadium when the tackle was first replayed on the big screen, with Channel Nine commentator Phil Gould admitting "it didn't look too good" before adding that a penalty and a report was "the least" he'd expected in terms of immediate disciplinary action.
Many others were stunned Kaufusi was allowed to stay on the field, with the NRL's own foul play policy stipulating that players should be sent to the sin bin for illegal acts that force their opponents from the field.
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Even Kaufusi's long-time Storm teammate Billy Slater found it difficult to mount a case in defence of the tackle in commentary for Nine, agreeing that if his elbow made contact with Matterson he had a case to answer.
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