LeagueNews.co | Jason Patrick
Andrew Johns and Brad Fittler have slammed the punishment dished out to Jahrome Hughes following the Melbourne Storm's victory on Saturday, likening it to a controversial call in a grand final match.
The Storm will now have to face Newcastle without their star halfback, leaving many NRL pundits scratching their heads in disbelief.
Hughes' actions on the field, reminiscent of a desperate last-minute tackle to save the game, saw him in hot water after pushing referee Chris Butler in an attempt to prevent a try.
The moment, akin to a high-stakes play in the dying minutes of a State of Origin clash, went unnoticed by many at first, only to be caught on camera during the post-match review.
Despite the chaos and confusion surrounding the incident, the NRL match review committee wasted no time in handing down a one-game suspension to Hughes for his contrary conduct.
With the stakes as high as a nail-biting sudden-death knockout game, Hughes now faces the tough decision of accepting the ban or risking a longer spell on the sidelines.
The Storm, facing a challenging battle without their star playmaker, must regroup and rally like a team of underdogs in order to overcome the upcoming obstacle in the form of the Newcastle Knights.
But with the resilience and grit typical of a top-tier Rugby League outfit, Melbourne will undoubtedly draw on their depth and determination to navigate through this rocky patch.