League: Guttenbeil joins calls against Latu ruling

Awen Guttenbeil

Long-serving New Zealand Warrior Awen Guttenbeil yesterday described the punishment meted out to former teammate Tevita Latu as almost a knee-jerk reaction.

Latu, 24, has been sacked by Sydney club Cronulla and deregistered by the NRL for an incident early on Monday when he allegedly broke the nose of a 19-year-old woman.

On Wednesday, Latu's Cronulla teammate, Nigel Vagana, told the Herald he thought the punishment was too severe.

The NRL's decision means the one-test Kiwi cannot sign for another club in the competition.

While Latu, who has been charged with assault, admitted to the club that he punched the woman, his sacking and deregistration come before a scheduled appearance in a Sydney court next month.

Guttenbeil said he was disappointed when he heard about Latu's "moment of stupidity", which looks to have ended the hooker's professional career.

But the Kiwi second-rower believed Latu had been dealt with too harshly.

"I think suspending him and fining him would have been the right thing to do," he said.

"But I think they almost had a knee-jerk reaction to kick him out of the 'comp' and talk of him never playing again.

"It's a little inconsistent."

Guttenbeil compared Latu's treatment with that of other players guilty of various transgressions in the past, including Penrith halfback Craig Gower.

In January, Gower was relieved of the Panthers' captaincy and handed a suspended fine by the NRL after a series of alcohol-fuelled incidents on the Sunshine Coast.

Guttenbeil and Latu were teammates during Latu's three years of first-grade with the Warriors, before the latter's move to Cronulla at the start of the season.

"It's a huge shame," Guttenbeil said.

"I'm very disappointed in Tevita and I'm sure he is as well.

"He's a good young man and one moment of stupidity has cost him his career."

- NZPA