isn't there precedence of being rubbed out of the game entirely for striking officials?
I didn,t see the incident perve but an article on page 27 of todays Newcastle Herald says it all.
Young Knight faces day of reckoning for ref incident
Robert Dillon
May 2, 2011
Knights rising star Josh Ailaomai faces an anxious wait before he appears before the National Youth Competition (under-20) judiciary this week after being sent off for striking a referee. If it can be proved there was some intent in Ailomai's actions on Saturday night, he faces a lengthy spell on the sidelines. NRL sources indicated yesterday he would be referred straight to the judiciary on an ungraded contrary-conduct charge. The 115 kilogram prop, who is regarded as one of the club's outstanding prospects, was marched in the seventh minute of Newcastle's 46-12 loss to Melbourne's table-topping NYC side after a collision with referee Jon Stone. Stone had just penalised Ailaomai for offside, and as the 19-year-old returned to the defensive line he appeared to exchange words with Stone at close range. There was apparent shoulder-to-shoulder contact and Stone had no hesitation in dismissing him, saying Ailaomai had deliberately raised his elbow. Knights NYC coach Garth Brennan said it was a ''massive call'' by the referee. But head coach Rick Stone, no relation to the whistleblower, was clearly concerned about the possible ramifications. ''I haven't seen the incident as yet, but it's probably something pretty serious that we've got to have a look at,'' Stone said. ''We'll get onto that later in the week.'' Ailaomai, a Junior Kiwis player, was suspended earlier in the season for a game for striking.
