The Group Nine judiciary has sent a clear message on-field violence won't be tolerated after handing out one of the longest bans in competition history last night.
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Kangaroos centre Fetongi Tuinauvai's 28-week ban was reduced to 21 with an early guilty plea after he was given a serious grade striking charge for punching Temora's Paul Ferguson during a fiery clash at Equex Centre on Sunday.
Ferguson is understood to have suffered facial injuries from the incident.
Fetongi was retaliating to a late and reckless high tackle from Dragons prop Zac Starr which left Kangaroo Zac Graham unconscious.
Starr was given a 12-match suspension, reduced to nine with a guilty plea, after his actions were deemed to be intentional.
"At the end of the day the image of the game has been tarnished by what's happened, and it is a sound message to players it won't be tolerated," Group Nine judiciary chairman Warren Barclay said.
"Some might think it's stiff, others a bit light but it's definitely something we're working on to improve, and make the players realise they have to be responsible for their actions."
Barclay said Tuinauvai in particular had shown great remorse and accepted the consequences of his actions.
"I'll give credit where due, Fetongi put his hand up to everything and accepted it," Barclay said.
"There was a number of things which in our eyes contributed to a lengthy sentence."
Barclay said the fact Tuinauvai ran some distance to become involved after Graham was knocked out to seek retribution was taken into consideration.
"It's one of the higher ones (suspensions) but given what was in front of us, everyone's seen the video," Barclay said.
Both judiciary hearings were closed to the media.
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