Latest news with #AlfredSmalley
RNZ News
18-06-2025
- Sport
- RNZ News
Eels centre Alfred Smalley suspended after high tackle on Warriors' Taine Tuaupiki
Parramatta Eels centre Alfred Smalley will spend more than a month on the sidelines, after knocking out NZ Warriors fullback Taine Tuaupiki in the final seconds of an NSW Cup game in Sydney. Tuaupiki, who started the season playing on the wing with the Warriors first-grade team , was at fullback for the reserves last weekend as they cruised to a 46-22 win over the Eels - their ninth straight victory to sit three points clear atop the table. As fulltime approached and with the Warriors on attack, Smalley shot out of the defensive line to plant a high shoulder shot on Tuaupiki - who was knocked out cold, but able to leave the field under his own steam and fly back to Auckland with his team. Auckland-born Smalley, 26, who logged two NRL appearances with Manly Sea Eagles in 2022, was sent from the field and has been suspended for five games after lodging an early plea for 'Grade Three Careless High Tackle - Reckless' with the judiciary. His actions attracted widespread outrage on social media. They were described as an "absolute dog shot" and "beyond disgraceful", among other things. Taine Tuaupiki celebrates a pre-season try for the Warriors. Photo: Jeremy Ward/Photosport "I've spoken to Taine, I saw him yesterday and given him a day away from the place today," Warriors coach Andrew Webster told media on Tuesday. "It looked bad, but he pulled up pretty well afterwards. We just want to make sure he's OK. "It was tough to see. I was watching it at home and it was such a good win, but an unfortunate circumstance at the end of the game." Tuaupiki remains under concussion protocols, and has not been named for either first-grade or the reserves, when they face Penrith Panthers at home on Saturday. "That's the beauty of the protocols," Webster said. "If he doesn't hit the markers, you can say, 'No, you're not playing' and if he hits the markers, you can say, 'Yep, you can play'. "You're always looking at the symptoms and how the player's reacting, rather than giving them a certain number of days off and playing them. "They've still got to tick boxes and pass tests, and if they fail, we don't play them." Tuaupiki, 25, has made 20 first-grade appearances for the Warriors and is contracted through to the end of 2026. He was the star of the their 2024 victory over the four-time defending champion Panthers in their last meeting at 'Magic Round' in Brisbane, scoring a late try and converting for the 22-20 win. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
Daily Telegraph
15-06-2025
- Sport
- Daily Telegraph
NRL news, updates: Fans up in arms over ugly ‘dog shot' on exciting Warriors talent Taine Tuaupiki, New Zealand, Parramatta Eels
Don't miss out on the headlines from NRL. Followed categories will be added to My News. Former Manly Eagles centre Alfred Smalley is facing an extended stint on the sidelines after a sickening dog shot on exciting Warriors talent Taine Tuaupiki in the NSW Cup on Saturday. In the closing seconds of the Warriors' 46-22 win a frustrated Smalley lost his head, charging out of the line and flooring the young fullback. FOX LEAGUE, available on Kayo Sports, is the only place to watch every game of every round in the 2025 NRL Telstra Premiership, LIVE with no ad-breaks during play. New to Kayo? Get your first month for just $1. Limited-time offer. Video of the incident appears to show the 26-year-old strike the New Zealand fullback with his shoulder or forearm, sending him flying backwards. If that wasn't enough Smalley then flopped on top of Tuaupiki who was out cold. Smalley was unsurprisingly sent off, while Tuaupiki was helped to his feet. You can watch the ugly incident in the player above. Former Manly Eagles centre Alfred Smalley is facing an extended stint on the sidelines after a sickening dog shot on exciting Warriors talent Taine Tuaupiki. Image: Getty/X Incredibly with the help of the trainer the 25-year-old managed to walk off the field and informed fans hours later that he was doing okay on social media. But rugby league commentator Sam Hewat was disgusted by what he witnessed. '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,' he wrote on X. 'Justifiably sent off in the game but should get more.' And fans were equally outraged. 'That's beyond disgraceful. He should have the book thrown at him,' one fan wrote. 'That's a total disgrace,' another added. 'That's disgusting,' a third wrote. Fortunately, Tuaupiki recovered enough from the incident to be cleared to board the plane home to Auckland on Saturday night. Originally published as Footy world outraged over former NRL player's ugly 'dog shot'
Daily Mail
15-06-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mail
Ex-Manly star facing hefty ban for 'beyond disgraceful' act that left opponent knocked out
Former Manly Sea Eagles player Alfred Smalley has been blasted online after a shocking tackle that saw him knock out an opposition player. 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. — 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.
News.com.au
15-06-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
Footy world outraged over former NRL player's ugly ‘dog shot'
Former Manly Eagles centre Alfred Smalley is facing an extended stint on the sidelines after a sickening dog shot on exciting Warriors talent Taine Tuaupiki in the NSW Cup on Saturday. In the closing seconds of the Warriors' 46-22 win a frustrated Smalley lost his head, charging out of the line and flooring the young fullback. FOX LEAGUE, available on Kayo Sports, is the only place to watch every game of every round in the 2025 NRL Telstra Premiership, LIVE with no ad-breaks during play. New to Kayo? Get your first month for just $1. Limited-time offer. Video of the incident appears to show the 26-year-old strike the New Zealand fullback with his shoulder or forearm, sending him flying backwards. If that wasn't enough Smalley then flopped on top of Tuaupiki who was out cold. Smalley was unsurprisingly sent off, while Tuaupiki was helped to his feet. You can watch the ugly incident in the player above. Incredibly with the help of the trainer the 25-year-old managed to walk off the field and informed fans hours later that he was doing okay on social media. But rugby league commentator Sam Hewat was disgusted by what he witnessed. '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,' he wrote on X. 'Justifiably sent off in the game but should get more.' And fans were equally outraged. 'That's beyond disgraceful. He should have the book thrown at him,' one fan wrote. 'That's a total disgrace,' another added. 'That's disgusting,' a third wrote.
