Taane Milne at centre of divisive loophole at Rugby League World Cup
Rabbitohs winger Taane Milne has had most of his six game NRL ban wiped out after he was allowed to be included in the Fiji squad for the World Cup and use the games towards his suspension.
Milne was handed the whopping punishment for his reckless high tackle on Penrith's Spencer Leniu in the Rabbitohs' preliminary-final loss last month.
'DISGRACE': Outrage grows over Kangaroos' move for World Cup
'BE A MAN': Wayne Bennett left furious over Cameron Munster act
The incident was bad enough for Leniu to attempt to continue the beef on the sideline when Milne was sent off.
Milne's suspension was the longest handed down since Latrell Mitchell's ban at the end of 2021 for his high-shot on Joseph Manu.
However, the ban will now hardly impact Souths in 2023.
In a controversial move, NRL judiciary chairman Geoff Bellew has approved an application for Milne's first four games of the ban to be taken in Fiji's World Cup campaign.
This is on the the proviso he would be picked after he played for the nation during the mid-year Tests.
That allowance takes into account the Bati's warm-up game against England, as well as their group matches against Australia, Italy and Scotland.
As things stand, Milne will be able to return in round three of next year for the Rabbitohs.
If Fiji progress out of the group stage, Souths can apply to have the World Cup finals matches also counted as part of Milne's ban.
In effect, it means that if the secondary application is approved and Fiji reach the semi-finals, Milne's entire ban could be served at the World Cup.
Many fans were left disappointed with the rule and claimed the punishment shouldn't carry over to a seperate competition.
Certainly for South Sydney fans is a joyous occasion but Milne himself would most likely be upset and disappointed that he cannot represent his country. It would have been a high honour for him to do so for himself and his family ☹️
— Shane Nelson (@ShaneNe78207066) October 12, 2022
what a joke. let the boys play
— Mikkael Paszek (@doyouparty_) October 12, 2022
I completely agree with that! I am gutted for him to miss representing Fiji, I am also glad he’s not being double punished though and can use the pool games toward his suspension. Would be pretty bad if he missed the whole World Cup and the the first 6 games for Souths
— ✨ (@iam_rb01) October 12, 2022
I actually agree with you but on the reverse side of things, if a player gets suspended during the World Cup and there aren't enough matches left in the World Cup to cover the suspension, then it will be just as ridiculous for the suspension to carryover to NRL matches.
— Aaron Eugol (@ajl247) October 12, 2022
Has nothing to do with @NRL should only relate to NRL matches. #Idiotic
— Miskwa-Giniw-Niini (@TheCraigLauzon) October 12, 2022
NRL allow stars to serve bans at World Cup
Milne's allowance comes after the NRL previously approved Jared Waerea-Hargreaves, Lindsay Collins and Jason Taumalolo to each serve bans in the World Cup.
Waerea-Hargraves will miss New Zealand's first two matches of the tournament after already sitting out their warm-up game, while Taumalolo faces a similar situation for Tonga.
Collins will miss Australia's opener against Fiji, after previously having the Prime Ministers' XIII game counted towards his ban from the NRL season.
That trio's allowances differed from Milne's in that they were each named in their nation's World Cup squads despite the suspensions.
In the case of Milne, his longer ban meant he was entirely overlooked by Fiji given he would only have been available for the final had the Bati qualified.
However, Bellew agreed with the Rabbitohs' argument that the 27-year-old would have been picked if not for the suspension.
with AAP
Click here to sign up to our newsletter for all the latest and breaking stories from Australia and around the world.
