NRL match review committee investigating allegations Canterbury hooker Michael Lichaa called referee a 'dog'
The NRL match review committee will investigate allegations that Canterbury hooker Michael Lichaa called referee Gerard Sutton a "dog" during the controversial Good Friday clash against South Sydney.
The match review committee has placed the entire heated exchanges towards the end of the match under investigation and will listen to multiple referee and broadcast microphones as part of a review of the Canterbury players' emotional tirade at the match officials.
Prop David Klemmer, who was sin-binned for saying "you're f---ed, you're off your face", and skipper James Graham are likely to face contrary conduct charges for the verbal abuse of the officials.
However, Fairfax Media understands several other players could find themselves in hot water, including Lichaa.
Lichaa is heard on the broadcast saying "he tripped over", believed to be referring to South Sydney halfback Adam Reynolds, who was on the ground in agony after Graham made contact with the playmaker while he was attempting a field goal.
The Bulldogs' No.9 then said: "dog", but it is unclear who exactly Lichaa was referring to.
The match review committee is aware of Lichaa's remarks and will examine further audio when it meets on Monday morning.
Meanwhile, the police investigation aimed at identifying the Canterbury fans who threw bottles at match officials last Friday could be hampered by the fact that members were not in their allocated seats.
The authorities, ANZ Stadium and the Canterbury Bulldogs club were hoping to identify the perpetrators by matching up their seat number with their memberships.
However, the wet weather at ANZ Stadium on Friday meant fans were scattered across the grandstand in search of shelter.
Two fans were arrested on the night for throwing projectiles at the referees, with more expected to be identified in the coming days with the potential of being hit with life bans.
The club and police are relying on facial recognition to identify the hooligans who threatened the safety of the NRL match officials.
ANZ Stadium insists it won't increase security measures for Canterbury's game against St George Illawarra next Sunday afternoon, comfortable the necessary procedures are in place.
The Bulldogs face the possibility of losing points over the behaviour of their fans, with the NRL weighing up the possibility of dangling competition points over the supporters to ensure there isn't a repeat.
Eels coach Brad Arthur believes stripping the Bulldogs of competition points wouldn't be the right punishment.
"I seriously don't think they should be," Arthur said. "But that's up to the NRL to make those decisions, it's got nothing to do with me."
The fans erupted after Bulldogs skipper James Graham was penalised for attacking the legs of Adam Reynolds while he was attempting a field goal to take the game into golden point.
Rugby league immortal Andrew Johns insists it was accidental conduct but believes the decision to rule a penalty was the right call.
"I still think it's an accident," Johns said on the Sunday Footy Show. "He's heads down and it's a split second. If he hits the ball and charges it down he's a hero but unfortunately he's missed the ball and hit the leg, but I still think it was an accident."
Former Roosters five-eighth Brad Fittler echoed Johns' sentiment. "It's a penalty every day of the week," Fittler said. "Every single day of the week."
