Ex-Manly star facing hefty ban for 'beyond disgraceful' act that left opponent knocked out
Smalley, 25, played two games for Manly in the NRL back in 2022.
He joined Paramatta's New South Wales Cup side in 2025 and turned out for the side on Saturday during their clash against the New Zealand Warriors at Kellyville Park in Sydney.
However, with eight seconds left on the clock and his side losing 22-44, Smalley flew off the line and smashed into promising full-back Taine Tuaupiki.
The Warriors star, who has made 20 appearances for the club in rugby league's top flight, fell to the floor immediately, jolted by the sheer force of the brutal collision.
Smalley then chose to flop his bodyweight onto the Warriors full-back, who appeared to have been knocked out cold.
Absolute dog shot here to the head of Taine Tuaupiki in NSW Cup. ZERO leeway for this in our game. 10 seconds to go in the match, down by 22 points, and you fly inside two of your own defenders to try and take a guys head off. Justifiably sent off in the game but should get more. pic.twitter.com/aT7Z2m1ZM9
— Sam Hewat (@samhewat) June 14, 2025
Alfred Smalley appeared to knock out Taine Tuaupiki with eight seconds left to go in the Warriors' victory over the Eels in the NSW Cup on Saturday
A scuffle broke out between both sets of players, while some Warriors stars rushed to the attention of Tuaupiki, who was lying prone on the ground.
Smalley was subsequently handed a red card.
The 25-year-old would thankfully walk off alongside medical staff after the ugly hit, which some social media users described as a 'dog shot'.
Sam Hewat was one of them, with the rugby league commentator reposting the video on his X account, writing: 'Absolute dog shot here to the head of Taine Tuaupiki in NSW Cup. ZERO leeway for this in our game. 10 seconds to go in the match, down by 22 points, and you fly inside two of your own defenders to try and take a guy's head off.
'Justifiably sent off in the game but should get more.'
Fans joined Hewat in their outrage at the ugly tackle.
'Diabolical,' one wrote.
'Bro wtf?' said another. One X user added: 'Shocking.'
While one said: 'That's beyond disgraceful. He should have the book thrown at him.'
Smalley made his NRL debut in the 2022 season for Manley against the Roosters.
He'd later join up with North Sydney in the NSW Cup before going on to join Parramatta earlier this year.
The victory sees the Warriors extend their lead at the top of the NSW Cup Ladder by three points over St George.
The Eels, meanwhile, sit seven points adrift in third place.
It is understood that Tuaupiki was cleared to board the flight home to Auckland on Saturday following the incident.
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