The NRL’s match review committee has charged Jaeman Salmon for the incident that incensed Raiders coach Ricky Stuart.
Salmon has been hit with a grade one contrary conduct charge and can accept a $1000 fine for making contact with the private parts and head of Canberra hooker Tom Starling.
While being tackled, Salmon’s boot made the contact which left Starling on the ground in pain.
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Penrith is reportedly exploring legal options on behalf of young playmaker Salmon against Stuart for his stunning outburst, in which he called the 23-year-old a “weak gutted dog person” and claimed he had been since he was a child.
While he initially refused to back down from the comments on Saturday night, Stuart on Sunday apologized for the public spray.
“I regret what I did on that platform (press conference) after the game,” he said in a statement to Nine’s Danny Weidler.
“I was speaking as a father and not as a football coach.
“I allowed my emotions to get the better of me and for that I’m sorry. There is a history between Jaeman Salmon and my family that I will not go into.
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“I should not have brought it up after the game, but it just got the better of me. I am truly sorry.”
Earlier, Brad Fittler said he was shocked by Stuart labeling Salmon a “weak gutted dog person” for kicking Starling – whether it was intentional or not.
“Jaeman Salmon might have something to answer for, kicking around like that. It was a long time ago that was considered OK,” Fittler told Nine’s Sports Sunday.
Ricky apologizes for Salmon outburst
“I was a bit in shock when I heard the (Stuart) comment.
“I don’t know what the history is, but it will be interesting to see what happens with the NRL and Ricky.”
The Sydney Morning Herald now reports Stuart’s anger stems from an incident in 2010, when his son and Salmon were playing in the same under 12s team.
While the exact incident is not specified, the report claims Stuart – then Cronulla’s NRL coach – was so incensed that he approached a young Salmon, whose father stood up for his son and almost got in a physical altercation with the rugby league legend.
NRL chief Andrew Abdo confirmed the integrity unit is investigating the comments from Saturday.
“It’s a disappointing situation,” Abdo told the Herald.
“This happened last night and everyone deserves due process. We will get all the facts before making a decision.”
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