Refs slammed for missing Keary shoulder charge

Souths five-eighth Luke Keary is facing a mandatory ban after producing a classic shoulder charge on North Queensland centre Justin O'Neill – despite the failure of onfield officials to even notice the blow.

Keary slammed into O'Neill as he made a kick return early in the Rabbitohs-Cowboys clash on Thursday night with the flyweight playmaker sent reeling from the collision.

The incident came after a week dominated by shoulder charge debate following the suspension of Manly's Willy Mason, Warriors prop Ben Matulino and Canberra centre Joseph Leilua after the NRL announced a crackdown on the banned hit.

But astonishingly referees Ben Cummins and Gavin Badger, along with video official Ashley Klein, failed to take any action.

The oversight left Channel Nine commentators Andrew Johns and Brett Finch bemused with the pair slamming officials for missing the incident.

Johns was stunned neither referee or the two touch judges noticed the hit.

"(It was a) classic shoulder charge," Johns said.

'It was a little version of Sonny Bill Williams and no one saw it."

Finch was equally flabbergasted.

"It was probably more aggressive than Willy's," Finch said.