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'Not an apology': Shaun Johnson sheds light on 'biting' controversy

Chris Young
·Sports Reporter
·3-min read
Cronulla Sharks star Shaun Johnson has published a post on Instagram, explaining his reaction to the Kevin Proctor biting incident and vowing to support the Gold Coast Titans veteran at the judiciary. Pictures: Getty Images/Instagram
Cronulla Sharks star Shaun Johnson has published a post on Instagram, explaining his reaction to the Kevin Proctor biting incident and vowing to support the Gold Coast Titans veteran at the judiciary. Pictures: Getty Images/Instagram

Cronulla Sharks veteran Shaun Johnson has taken to Instagram to shed more light on the controversial ‘biting’ incident between he and Gold Coast Titans veteran Kevin Proctor.

Proctor was sent off after he appeared to bite Johnson during the teams’ clash last weekend, but has vehemently denied the charge, and is set to fight it at the NRL judiciary.

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Johnson reacted angrily at the time, but was tight-lipped about the incident after the game, praising Proctor’s sportsmanship.

The Sharks star took to social media on Tuesday to clear the air over the incident, saying it wasn’t an ‘apology’ for his on-field reaction, rather an explanation for it.

“Time to clear the air and let you know where I stand on what happened during last weeks game. This is not an apology,” Johnson posted.

“After this post I won’t be talking about it again so take what you want from it and jog on. To the media outlets that’ll likely grab this and twist it. Please don’t.

“Do I believe Kev had a nibble on my arm? At the time yes I did - otherwise I wouldn’t have reacted the way I did.

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A post shared by Shaun Johnson (@shaun_johnson90) on

“Since then I have spoken to Kev and he’s told me he didn’t and I believe him.

“I’ve also had time to watch the footage - the same footage you’ve all seen and can see that maybe the force I had against his open mouth with my arm could have been the reason I felt what I did.”

Sharks star Shaun Johnson praises Kevin Proctor

Johnspn went on to say he would be supporting Proctor’s judiciary challenge, despite having said he would not do so on the weekend.

The Sharks star’s change of heart was in keeping with his Instagram post, in which he admitted he had the wrong reaction to what he now believed was an innocuous incident.

“In the heat of the moment I reacted the way I did and I can’t change that, no way did I think he would get sent from the field but I did think we’d get something for it,” he wrote.

Kevin Proctor is pictured being sent off by referee Henry Perenara for biting the forearm of Shaun Johnson.
Kevin Proctor is sent off by referee Henry Perenara for biting the forearm of Shaun Johnson during the round 14 NRL match between Cronulla and the Gold Coast Titans. (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)

“I hate that this has taken attention away from the fact it was Kevs 250th first grade game and what an unreal player he has been for so long for both club and country.

“I’ll be supporting Kev at judiciary tonight where I can, as I believe him being sent off and ultimately costing his team the game is big enough punishment.”