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Bellamy hopes no hysteria in Smith tackle

Craig Bellamy hopes the NRL Match Review Committee ignores the hysteria when assessing Brandon Smith's tackle in Melbourne's NRL match against Gold Coast.

CRAIG BELLAMY.
 CRAIG BELLAMY. Picture: Darrian Traynor/Getty Images

Coach Craig Bellamy says he hopes the "hysteria" around hip-drop tackles doesn't affect judgment on Brandon Smith, who was placed on report during Melbourne's win over Gold Coast on Friday night

Returning after a three-week ban for abusing a referee, Smith again found himself in trouble 30 minutes into the 32-14 win at AAMI Park when he fell on to Tino Fa'asuamaleaui's leg during a two-man tackle.

Bellamy said he'd only had a quick look but pleaded for the NRL Match Review Committee to consider the tackle for what it was.

"I just hope it gets judged on the tackle, not some of the hysteria that has gone on this week," Bellamy said in the post-match press conference.

"That is all we'd ask ... we will leave that to the people who need to judge it."

His comments came after Brisbane star Pat Carrigan was suspended for four games for a hip-drop tackle last round that left Tigers utility Jackson Hastings with a broken leg.

Bellamy was asked whether he thought the tackling style was an issue in the game but said he didn't think so.

"Pat Carrigan doesn't go out on the field to break Hastings' legs, they are usually accidents," he said.

"I understand if they are in the game they need to be out but I don't think they're a big issue in the game.

"We want to get it out of the game no doubt, but there hasn't been a whole heap this year I don't think.

"I just hope it gets judged on that and not on it being in the news a lot this week."

Fa'asuamaleaui said he didn't think it was a deliberate action by Smith.

"It was just an accident - he went low and slipped on to my ankle," the Gold Coast skipper said.

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