NRL news: Tino Fa'asuamaleaui hit with damning allegation as Jacob Preston rubbed out of State of Origin
Former NRL player James Graham has accused Tino Fa'asuamaleaui of 'staying down' to draw the penalty that resulted in Jacob Preston being banned for four weeks and rubbed out of State of Origin. Preston was unsuccessful at the NRL judiciary on Wednesday night, which increased his suspension from three to four games.
He was charged for a crusher tackle on Fa'asuamaleaui in the Bulldogs' win over the Titans on Sunday, and because it was his third charge of the season he copped a heavy ban. The back-rower had enjoyed a superb start to the season and many had touted him as a State of Origin bolter for NSW.
James Graham believes Tino Fa'asuamaleaui stayed down to draw the penalty that got Jacob Preston suspended. Image: Fox League/AAP
But the four-week ban will rule him out of Origin 1 contention, and would make it very hard for him to play Game 2 as well. Because the Bulldogs have a bye in Round 13, he won't have completed his ban by the time the team for Game 2 is named at the end of Round 14.
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In a stunning post-hearing statement, Preston's lawyer Paul McGirr claimed 'diving' was widespread in the NRL, with players attempting to earn penalties from crusher tackles. "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. "Particularly when players go down and behave like their heads almost falling off, and then they're running it up two or three times in the next (set of) six."
Hundreds of hours are spent on knowing how to release the head and the 'pressure' applied on Tino is the most minor I've seen when it comes to a crusher tackle. I'm in disbelief pic.twitter.com/Th2Ky5qRY3
— Macca (@Andrewmacca27) May 5, 2025
James Graham accuses Tino Fa'asuamaleaui of 'staying down'
While McGirr was careful not to accused Fa'asuamaleaui, the same can't be said of former Bulldogs captain Graham. Speaking on 'The Bye Round' podcast before the judiciary hearing, Graham launched into Fa'asuamaleaui for staying down to draw the penalty.
"I was calling this game on radio and I couldn't believe Tino was allowed to stay down to get that penalty," Graham said. "I don't agree with that. This is an absolute farce. I nearly swore on radio."
Tino Fa'asuamaleaui stayed on the ground after Jacob Preston's crusher tackle. Image: Fox League
Graham launched a staunch defence of Preston and said he believed the Bulldogs player took steps to avoid hurting Fa'asuamaleaui. "I think we've actually forgotten what an actual crusher tackle is. When Melbourne Storm brought it into the competition it was by design. It was pre-meditated and it was intended to injure and hurt an individual.
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"In my opinion, Jacob Preston actually had a choice where he could have done the old-school crusher tackle and looked to really put some force into Tino's neck. Or move his body to allow the head to come through, and in my opinion he makes the latter of those two decisions."
An interesting sub-plot in the situation is that Fa'asuamaleaui will be one of the first players picked for Queensland, but he won't be facing off against Preston for NSW. According to reports the Titans player apologised to Bulldogs captain Stephen Crichton after the full-time siren.
Jacob Preston (L) was unsuccessful at the NRL judiciary. (AAP Image/Dan Himbrechts)
Jacob Preston excuse rejected at NRL judiciary
During the hearing, Preston rejected claims from the NRL's lawyer Lachlan Gyles that he had added to the force on Fa'asuamaleaui's head by leaving the ground in the tackle. Gyles also claimed there was no evidence to suggest Preston tried to remove his arm like he suggested - a point the Bulldogs second-rower flatly denied.
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"As my arm comes out that's when I lose my feet simultaneously," Preston said. But the panel of Tony Puletua and Paul Simpkins took less than 15 minutes to agree with Gyles, pointing to Preston's feet leaving the ground as their main issue.
with AAP
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