Canterbury Bulldogs captain James Graham and forward David Klemmer have been suspended after verbally abusing an umpire in their controversial loss to South Sydney at the weekend.
Graham was suspended for four weeks and Klemmer for three for ‘contrary conduct (dissent)’, after both players took issue with referee Gerard Sutton’s decision to award the Rabbitohs a penalty in the dying minutes of the match, Fairfax Media reported.
Michael Lichaa, who called Sutton a ‘dog’ in the incident, avoided suspension.
Tempers flared on Friday night when Sutton awarded South Sydney a last-minute penalty after Graham landed on Rabbitohs’ half-back Adam Reynolds’ standing leg.
Standing in for Reynolds, Bryson Goodwin took the kick, which resulted in the Rabbitohs winning the match 18-17.
Referees had to be shielded from flying bottles after the match as Bulldogs fans vented their frustrations, with one official falling and injuring his shoulder while trying to avoid being hit.
Other suspensions from the match include two weeks for prop Sam Kasiano, whose dangerous contact with Issac Luke resulted in South Sydney being awarded an eight-point try late in the first half.
