But no player has ever been charged with a cannonball tackle in either the NRL or Super League. The incident was not placed on report and it's understood the match review committee of Jon Sharp, Graeme Sargent, Stuart Raper and Mark Harris is extremely reluctant to make an example of Luke.
Luke declined to comment but Sheens was highly critical of the tackle.
"It's a tackle that's a bit controversial in Australia,'' he said. "It's certainly one we're not very happy with. The same kid did it in Newcastle. [It's] a hard tackle to outlaw but, by the same token, it's a worry to everyone in the game. Everyone's talking about how to get rid of it.''
Shillington immediately worried about what damage had been done.
"Because it's the same movement I've done before when I've done my cruciate, I thought, `that's my season over, another year on the sidelines'. It feels good now.
"It's one of those tackles where you can't see people coming at your knees, you're trying to wrestle up top.''
Asked if he thought Luke's action was deliberate, Shillington said: ``It's hard to say. He did it the other week against Sam Thaiday. It's happened again this week. If it keeps happening, I guess so.''
Brisbane's Thaiday, who was the target of a similar tackle by Luke in the 42-6 drubbing of the Kiwis in Newcastle a fortnight ago, said: "I'm not going to bag him or come at Issac Luke but it is a dangerous tackle and you can put blokes out doing those types of things.
"We don't want it in the game. It happened to me in Newcastle. I kind of crapped my pants a little bit there. You just don't know what's going to happen. If your feet are planted on the ground, you get hit the wrong way, your knee's gone.
"We don't want someone's knee to be wrecked because of a dangerous tackle like that. It needs to be addressed now.''
Coach Stephen Kearney, happy with his side's improvement from the flogging in Newcastle a fortnight ago, defended his hooker's actions which were the major flashpoint of the match.
"If Issac goes in with the legs and two other guys are trying to pull him another way, what's he supposed to do? Does he let him go? I couldn't see there was a great deal wrong with that.
"Do we tell them not to tackle around the legs anymore? The refs didn't seem to have a problem with it. The one against Australia in Australia looked far worse than what tonight's did.''
Kiwis second-rower forward Simon Mannering said tackles like that had been going on for years, with players aiming for the legs and forcing players onto their backs.
"I don't think Issac went in with any malice at all. It's just what you're taught. Any league player will tell you you're taught to pin the legs so it's easier to get the wrestle.
"You don't want to see a player get injured, though.''
The Kiwis gave the Australians a massive fright after trailing 16-0 at halftime, with tries to Jason Nightingale and Kalifa Fai Fai Loa narrowing the margin to 16-12 by the 57th minute.
But Sheens' side went up a gear, with late tries to Darius Boyd and Akuila Uate guaranteeing a winning start to the tournament. The two teams head to London this week to play a double header at Wembley on Sunday morning (NZT), with New Zealand taking on Wales and Australia facing England.
Australia 26 (Matt Scott, Tony Williams, Johnathan Thurston, Darius Boyd, Akuila Uate tries; Thurston 3 gls) bt New Zealand 12 (Jason Nightingale, Kalifa Fai Fai Loa tries; Benji Marshall 2 gls). HT: 16-0.
- APNZ
