‘What the hell is this sport? That’s an assault’: Americans lose their mind after footage of a heavy NRL hit goes viral online – with US fans asking ‘where are the pads?’
- NRL star Jorge Taufua gone viral online for brutal tackle on Cameron Munster
- Caught attention of US social media sites and sparked divisive reaction
- NBA stars Bradley Beal and JR Smith among the sports fans who commented
One of the biggest hits of the NRL season has gone viral online in the US and stunned some of the world’s highest profile sport stars.
Manly Sea Eagles winger Jorge Taufua made international headlines for his bone-crunching tackle on Melbourne Storm five-eighth Cameron Munster in his side’s loss at Lottoland on Saturday night.
The brutal tackle caught the attention of hugely popular New York-based social media account House of Highlights, which posts footage of mainly US sports.
The clip attracted more than two million viewers within hours of being posted, with another 53,000 views on Twitter.
Manly Sea Eagles winger Jorge Taufua’s brutal tackle on Cameron Munster has gone viral
‘He got laid out,’ the House of Highlights post read.
Among the hundreds who commented were NBA stars Bradley Beal and JR Smith.
‘Damn,’ Smith posted.
Beal added: ‘NOOOOOO!’
Munster got word of the NBA stars’ reactions and responded to Beal’s comment.
‘That moment I realised I f***ed up,’ he quipped.
The tackle during Manly’s loss to Melbourne was one of the biggest of the season
Munster later posted an Instagram story sharing the House of Highlights post.
‘If anyone finds my ribs on the field can someone notify me? Thanks,’ he wrote.
While some American sports fans were in awe of Taufua’s tackle, others were left reeling.
‘In the NFL this is a $4,000,000 fine and four years in prison,’ one shocked fan posted.
Another added: ‘That’s an assault charge.’
Cameron Munster (pictured) responded to NBA star’s Bradley Beal comment to the tackle on him, replying ‘That moment I realised I f***ed up.’
Many US sports fans were shocked by the brutal tackle which has gone viral on social media
Footage of the tackle spread to other US social media sites, including Bleacher Report’s Twitter thread.
‘You would never be able to play in the NFL again,’ one sports fan commented.
‘NFL players have nothing on rugby players, lets see the NFL go without pads,’ added another.
Taufua was coy about the hit on Monday but admitted he’d watched it at least 25 times.
He insisted he was just trying to shut down Munster and kill off the play after flying in from the other side of the field.
‘He’s elusive and I was expecting him to step me,’ Taufua said.
‘The highlight reel could have been different, he could have stepped me and scored. I had to anticipate what he was going to do, I was thankful the play stopped there.’
Melbourne Storm five-eighth posted this Instagram story after the tackle on him went viral
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