LeagueNews.co | Jason Patrick
The NRL has come out swinging after Jahrome Hughes was suspended for pushing a referee, with head of football Graham Annesley backing the decision as "it's never acceptable to push a referee."
Hughes, the Storm halfback, copped a one-match ban for his grade two contrary conduct charge after shoving referee Chris Butler during the Storm's nail-biting 30-26 win over the Warriors.
The incident occurred in the 58th minute when Hughes, defending the Storm's try line, made a bold move to stop a try by nudging Butler out of the way to tackle Rocco Berry.
This move sent the ref tumbling to the ground, ultimately leading to Hughes' suspension.
Despite the uproar from fans and former players like Michael Ennis, Annesley stood firm, stating that anything less than a suspension wouldn't have sufficed given Hughes' deliberate actions towards the official.
"In the game, it's always been a cardinal rule to never lay hands on a referee," Annesley explained.
"While accidental physical contact can happen on the field, a conscious decision to push a ref is a serious offense."
The Storm have accepted Hughes' guilty plea to the contrary conduct charge, opting to avoid the risk of their star player missing multiple games.
As the rugby league world debates the severity of the suspension, Annesley maintains that respect for officials is paramount in the sport.