Cody Walker in ugly altercation with Panthers trainer 'over sledge'
Cody Walker had to be pulled away from Penrith Panthers trainer Pete Green in ugly scenes after the NRL preliminary final, believed to have been sparked by a sledge.
Channel Nine revealed footage of Walker giving Green a spray after South Sydney's 32-12 loss to the Panthers on Saturday night.
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The Rabbitohs five-eighth had to be pulled away from the altercation by teammates in an ugly post-script to Penrith's win.
According to the Sydney Morning Herald, Souths officials believe Walker took offence to sledging directed at Jed Cartwright - who formally played for the Panthers and is now with the Rabbitohs.
Souths officials believe a "series of verbal barbs" were directed at Cartwright over a broken back he suffered during his time at Penrith.
The sledge is said to have occurred in the 69th minute when Green was on the field attending to Panthers fullback Dylan Edwards after a tackle from Cartwright.
The Panthers claim that Green simply told a Panthers player to “get back” in the line, rather than sledging anyone.
Cartwright then approached Green after full-time before Walker got involved and launched a spray at the Penrith trainer.
South Sydney are yet to lodge an official complaint to the NRL, but claim Green went to far in 'targeting' Cartwright.
“When you’re in a privileged position, you should never speak to another player from an opposition team let alone say the things that were said,” a South Sydney official reportedly told the Herald.
“It’s the height of disrespect.”
Walker is believed to have been sticking up for Cartwright, with teammates Cameron Murray and Davvy Moale, as well as chief operating officer Brock Schaefer intervening and dragging Walker away.
Green was escorted from the field by Penrith officials after the exchange with Walker.
Taane Milne facing monster ban after send-off
Meanwhile, Souths winger Taane Milne is facing a massive ban after being sent off for a high shot on Spencer Leniu late in the match.
Milne's World Cup hopes with Fiji are over and South Sydney must apply for an exemption to avoid him missing the first quarter of next NRL season.
The NRL came down hard on Milne on Sunday, handing him a grade-two reckless high tackle charge after he became the first man sent off in a finals match in almost 30 years.
The Rabbitohs winger faces a ban of at least six matches, or seven if he contests it and fails.
The charge is the heaviest handed down for a high tackle since Latrell Mitchell's last season, and the first time a shot has been deemed reckless this year.
Milne's ban is not helped by the fact it is his third charge this year after he was sin-binned twice in the opening week of the finals against the Roosters.
If the Rabbitohs are able to successfully make a case to NRL judiciary chairman Geoff Bellew that Milne would have been selected in Fiji's final 24-man squad, four of the games can be served in the World Cup and warm-up matches.
Otherwise, the winger will miss at least the first six rounds of next season for Souths and leave them with another gap in their backline.
with AAP
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