Rugby League: Seuseu's hit brings fans' blood to boil

LEEDS - A quietly spoken Christian law student has been cast as the devil incarnate by seething Great Britain fans.

Kiwis prop Jerry Seuseu's first test head clash with opposite Stuart Fielden has enraged fans on a league website with several calling for the Kiwi battering ram to be banned for what they called a blatant head butt.

Australian referee Steve Clark saw the incident and ruled a knock on after Fielden lost possession as he crumpled to the ground. Despite being helped from the field, he is available for Sunday's second test in Huddersfield.

The Kiwis feted the hit as inspirational, but British opinion on the TotalRL.com fans' forum was scathing.

One description renamed him "SeuJimmy" - Scottish parlance in recognition of his supposed "Glasgow Kiss".

Internet inquisitors were further angered that Seuseu carried on with the tackle when Fielden was obviously hurt.

"It was a blatant head butt and then he put some more digs in on the floor," one fan claimed.

Seuseu's grin afterwards did not go down too well either.

Fans fear Great Britain will follow Adrian Morley's immediate, and thinly disguised, attempt at retribution when hostilities resume at McAlpine Stadium.

"One of the lads is likely to take the law into his own hands and no doubt get sent off for doing something daft," one fan wrote.

"I hope the team doesn't become too obsessed by it."

Morley, for his part, suggested the tackle had been forgotten, although that remains to be seen.

After viewing a replay the Sydney Roosters enforcer admitted: "I don't think it was a dirty tackle. It was just an accident."

Seuseu said there was no malice in the tackle and joked he only escaped damage because of his "hard coconut head, a Samoan head".

While the Great Britain players took exception, Seuseu said the Kiwis were fired up by the collision.

One forum respondent may have spoken for him when pondering: "Do you think Seuseu is riddled by self-doubt and fear at his ability to withstand some close attention this weekend? I doubt it."

- NZPA