- Jahrome Hughes risks suspension for pushing referee
- The Melbourne Storm star faces a two-match ban
- Andrew Johns believes it was all an accident
The NRL has threatened Melbourne halfback Jahrome Hughes with a two-match ban for shoving referee Chris Butler while trying to stop a try – but NRL legend Andrew Johns believes it was an accident.
In a bizarre postscript to Melbourne’s thrilling 30-26 win over the Warriors on Saturday night, Hughes was hit with a grade two conduct charge on Sunday.
The charge relates to a second-half incident in which referee Butler found himself between Hughes and Rocco Berry as the Warriors center charged for the line.
Replays show Hughes pushing Butler out of the way, with the referee hitting the ground before the Storm halfback attempts a try-red tackle.
AAP understands that the allegation only relates to the physical contact, where Hughes is not alleged to have said anything inappropriate.
The NRL has threatened Jahrome Hughes with a ban for shoving referee Chris Butler
Replays show Hughes pushing Butler out of the way as the referee hits the ground
The incident drew laughs from spectators and commentators at the time, but the NRL has deemed it no laughing matter.
The Kiwi international will miss next Sunday’s clash with Newcastle with an early guilty plea and faces a second week out if he fights the charge and loses in court.
If found guilty, Hughes would be the first player to be banned for contacting a referee since a wave of suspensions during an NRL crash in 2016.
Hughes won support from pundits including Brad Fittler and Andrew Johns on Sunday.
“He wouldn’t have even looked,” Johns said of the Storm halfback on Nine’s Sunday Footy Show.
‘He just looks at (Berry). He doesn’t even look at the referee. He’s a bit roughed up there.
‘We have to protect the referees, no doubt. Especially at junior level … but for me it was an accident.’
Fittler questioned Butler’s placement, saying Hughes had too little time to make an informed decision in relation to the official.
Andrew Johns says Hughes was roughed up and believes the act was an accident
Melbourne have been without Hughes’ usual fly-half partner Cameron Munster for the first two rounds through injury, but he has a chance to return against the Knights next week.
Butler was the second umpire embroiled in the game over the weekend.
Canterbury were denied a try on Friday night against Cronulla when referee Ziggy Przeklasa-Adamski was deemed to have been in the way of Sharks’ Braydon Trindall as he tried to stop Viliame Kikau close to the line.
There was contact between Trindall and Przeklasa-Adamski, but only in the process of the player trying to make a tackle.
Hughes’ decision to push Butler to the side achieved little for the Storm – while he slowed Berry close to the line, Marcelo Montoya scored on the next play.
Hughes is the only player considering being ruled out of Saturday’s games.
Canberra duo Xavier Savage and Ethan Strange are fined following the Raiders’ win over Wests Tigers but are free to face the Warriors on Friday night.
Tigers utility Aidan Sezer also faces a fine for a high tackle on Raiders back Jordan Rapana, as does Newcastle No.6 Tyson Gamble for his shot at North Queensland’s Tom Dearden.
