 Deacon suffered serious facial injuries during Saturday's game |
Top New Zealand rugby league official Selwyn Bennett has criticised the decision to ban Nigel Vagana for one game for his tackle on Paul Deacon. The Great Britain player needed surgery on serious facial injuries following Saturday's Tri-Nations game but Bennett told the BBC the ban was unjustified.
"Nothing will convince me Nigel was guilty. I think he was careless but not reckless or dangerous," he said.
"When you have a good look you see it was an accident. There was no malice".
 |  It's a sport, it's rough and tumble, let's get on with the game |
Deacon needed two hours of treatment in the dressing room after the game before undergoing surgery.
There were even fears the injury could be life-threatening because of damaged blood vessels in his mouth.
The Bradford player is facing a lengthy spell on the sidelines and is unlikely to recover in time for the World Club Challenge match against Wests Tigers in the new year.
A furious Bulls chairman Chris Caisley said Vagana's one-match ban was pathetic and that the people who imposed it should have visited Deacon in hospital.
"I'm surprised at the chairman making reference to visiting him in hospital," said Bennett, who is vice-chairman of the NZRL.
"Our captain Ruben Wiki had the same operation on Monday. He has the same injuries from the same match.
"It's a wonder we're not jumping up and down. It's a sport, it's rough and tumble, let's get on with the game."
MMIX
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