May 25th, 2018

May 25th, 2018

Nine NRL commentator Andrew Johns took aim at Storm big man Sam Kasiano for a late tackle on Cowboys captain Johnathan Thurston during Friday night's clash in North Queensland.

Late in the first half when Melbourne were defending from just outside their own 20m line, Kasiano laid a rough hit on Thurston which got the Storm giant on report.

Johns was livid with the play and called for the NRL to come down hard on Kasiano.

"It wasn't a big hit, it was a dog shot, it was a coward hit," Johns said.

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(Nine)

"Thurston passes the ball, his back's turned, there's this long wait and he dives in and hits him in the lower back and the kidneys.

"That has to be knocked out of the game - hitting blokes in the back after they've passed the ball.

"It should be a minimum four week suspension. That's dangerous. It's a dog shot and they have to get it out of the game. There is no need for that."

Fellow Nine NRL commentator Darren Lockyer agreed it was one of the biggest risks playing the halves, and there should be greater protection for players.

"He should be in the sin bin," Lockyer said.

"You talk about the crusher tackles being dangerous, well, it's the same thing, you're attacking the neck when you do that."