How did Marty Taupau stay on the field after this?
Manly enforcer Marty Taupau was placed on report for a shocking high tackle that knocked Cronulla youngster Jack Bird out of Monday night's clash with concussion.
Taupau hit Bird flush on the chin with a brutal swinging arm after the Sharks centre had stepped back off his right foot and fumbled the ball.
Bird appeared to be bending down to regather the loose ball when Taupau's clenched fist hit him on the jaw.
Taupau will surely come under scrutiny from the NRL match review committee after leaving the 21-year-old in a world of hurt.
Fans on social media were gobsmacked Taupau stayed on the field.
Don't know how Taupau wasn't sent for a spell there. Sharks could lose Bird for the match. Rules have to change #NRLManlySharks
— Zac Bailey (@ZacBaileyFOX) March 21, 2016
RIP the sin bin. We need to use it like England do. Taupau is gone three weeks and we lose Bird
— Daaaan (@suthodan) March 21, 2016
@EAGLES_BOY So if Taupau punched Bird in the head he would have been sinbinned ... but that's not foul play.
— Andrew Voss (@AndrewVossy) March 21, 2016
Taupau himself took to Twitter afterwards to apologise:
Apologies for the late contact on the noggin bro @JackBird_1 Hope you recover well and bounce back harder nextweek. All the best champ ✊🏽☺️
— Martin Taupau (@MartyKapow) March 21, 2016