Fiery Exchange: JWH Defends Against High Shot Accusations from Cowboys Prop

The rugby league world was left abuzz with controversy after North Queensland Cowboys prop Jordan McLean accused Parramatta Eels forward Junior Paulo of a high shot during their recent NRL match. McLean, who suffered a broken jaw and a concussion in the incident, alleged that Paulo deliberately hit him with a “late, high and dangerous” tackle. However, his claims were quickly refuted by the Eels, with their coach Brad Arthur and captain Junior Paulo both defending their teammate and arguing that the collision was accidental and unavoidable. The situation escalated further when Warriors forward Jamayne Taunoa-Brown accused McLean of disrespecting the Eels and suggested that there was more to the story than met the eye.

High Shot Controversy

The incident in question occurred during the Cowboys-Eels clash in Round 16 of the NRL season on July 4th. Early in the second half, Paulo collided with McLean as the latter was attempting to make a run. McLean hit the ground hard and appeared to be hurt, but the game continued without any stoppage. Later in the match, McLean had to be taken off after he suffered a broken jaw and a concussion. After the game, the Cowboys prop spoke to the media and accused Paulo of a high shot, claiming that it was a deliberate act of foul play that caused his injuries.

JWH Defends Paulo

Junior Paulo, who was one of the Eels’ best performers on the day, strongly denied McLean’s accusation and defended his actions. Speaking to NRL.com, he said: “I didn’t intentionally do anything to Jordan. It’s just unfortunate that it played out like that and he got injured. It’s not something that I like to see, but it’s part of the game. It wasn’t late. It wasn’t high. It was just an unfortunate incident.” His coach Brad Arthur also supported him, saying that he didn’t think there was anything wrong with the tackle and that it was just an unfortunate collision.

Taunoa-Brown Weighs In

Jamayne Taunoa-Brown, who played alongside Paulo at the Warriors before joining the Auckland-based club this season, offered his own take on the situation. In a since-deleted post on Instagram, he wrote: “If you’re gonna come out and publicly call out other players for foul play, then you better come with some evidence. Junior Paulo would never intentionally hurt someone on the field and anyone who knows him knows this. Smells like a bit of disrespect to me.” While his post was seen by some as unnecessary and inflammatory, it added another layer to the already heated debate.

Summary

The high shot controversy surrounding Junior Paulo and Jordan McLean has divided the rugby league community. While McLean claims that Paulo’s tackle was deliberate and dangerous, the Eels and their supporters insist that it was simply an unfortunate accident. The involvement of Jamayne Taunoa-Brown has added another dimension to the debate, with some questioning whether McLean’s accusations were respectful or baseless. As the NRL investigates the incident, fans and pundits alike will be watching closely to see how it all plays out.

Hashtags: #NRL #RugbyLeague #HighShot #JuniorPaulo #JordanMcLean #ParramattaEels #NorthQueenslandCowboys #JamayneTaunoaBrown #Controversy #FoulPlay. #NEWS