Manly legend baffled by sanction for ‘absolute cheap shot’
Manly great Mark ‘Spudd’ Carroll feels newly re-signed Sea Eagles gun Brandon Wakeham was lucky to escape with a one-game ban for the punch he landed out of anger on Ronaldo Mulitalo in Fiji’s Rugby League World Cup clash with New Zealand.
The halfback was given his marching orders for striking Mulitalo in an aggressive act that ignited a melee between the two teams in a match that turned out to be Fiji’s last of the World Cup.
Brandon Wakeham is sent off for his ugly act. Getty Images
Mulitalo escaped without any significant injury, but he will miss New Zealand’s semi-final against Tonga due to a high shot that sparked the incident.
Fijian winger Ronald Philitoga was running the ball forward when he was collected high by the Kiwi winger. Wakeham then punched the side of Mulitalo’s head.
Referee Grant Atkins sent both men off the field promptly in the 51st minute.
After copping their charges, Mulitalo and Wakeham both submitted early guilty pleas, meaning they will miss one game each. Wakeham will serve his ban in round one of the 2027 NRL season, costing Manly a key player.
Speaking on 2GB’s Sports Today, host Adam Hawse and Carroll were both critical of the Wakeham charge and resulting suspension.
“It is an absolute cheap shot,” Hawse said.
“We haven’t seen something like this since punching was outlawed more than a decade ago. It took us back to the dark ages.”
Carroll, a premiership winner with Manly in 1996, added: “It probably should’ve been a bigger number than one.
“I know about the heat of the battle, but there are other ways of getting your point across. You shouldn’t do that.”
Hawse felt the incident should have resulted in a six-game ban for Wakeham. Carroll had a similar view of Mulitalo’s mistimed shot on Philitoga.
“If it was an NRL game he’d probably get six weeks,” he said of the high shot.
Ronaldo Mulitalo is sent off. NRL Imagery
“(Mulitalo’s absence) puts a lot of pressure on his side now.”
Mulitalo will be hopeful that his Kiwi teammates are able to come out on top in the semi-final so he can return to help the nation attempt to win the World Cup.
A roaring Tongan outfit stands in the way of the Kiwis and the final. The two teams will face off in the first men’s semi-final match on Saturday night in Newcastle.
The winner of that match will then await Australia’s clash with Samoa on Sunday night to learn who they will face in the battle for the World Cup trophy.
