'Throwing the toys out of the cot': Brad Fittler says Tino should be 'embarrassed' over crusher tackle reaction

Brad Fittler has blown up over players staying down to milk penalties in the wake of Jacob Preston's four-game suspension for a crusher tackle at Magic Round.

Preston will miss the next month of action for the Bulldogs - as well as a potential State of Origin debut - after failing at the judiciary on Tuesday night.

The back-rower was only hit with a grade one charge for the tackle on Titans skipper Tino Fa'asuamaleaui, but copped a lengthy suspension due to prior incidents.

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"Jacob is getting in trouble for it being his third offence," Fittler said on 2GB's Wide World of Sports Radio.

"I don't think what he did was massively over the top - he caught his head, but I feel like he was making room at the time."

The tackle saw Preston sin binned by referee Todd Smith at the time after the Gold Coast captain complained about the pressure on his neck.

However, just moments later, Fa'asuamaleaui was back on his feet and continued playing in the type of scene that Fittler doesn't want to see in the game.

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"He did go extra Tino - I don't know how these players don't get embarrassed," he said.

"He wasn't hurt and he obviously played on. Some players will get up and sort of give the referee an opportunity, but Tino really put pressure on the Bunker and the referee.

"Tino is really testing the system and I suppose the Bunker really - you can't let them win like that, you can't let them sit when they want to.

"It's like spitting the dummy out and throwing the toys out of the cot. I thought the Tino one was a standout - it was a bit wrong by Tino." 

Fittler's sentiments were echoed by Preston's lawyer Paul McGirr on Tuesday night, pointing out the widespread issue in the game.

"I'm not suggesting this with Tino, but some players certainly appear to be lying down a bit in order to milk a penalty," McGirr said after the judiciary hearing.

"Particularly when players go down and behave like their head's almost falling off, and then they're running it up two or three times in the next [set of] six."