Thaiday whacks 'cop out' in wake of Flanagan ban

League great Sam Thaiday believes the NRL missed the perfect opportunity to stamp out biting once and for all after Kyle Flanagan’s hearing.

The Dragons half was give a four-week ban after he was found guilty of biting Stephen Crichton on the nose.

Flanagan pleaded his innocence throughout the case but ultimately the panel of Greg McCallum and Henry Perenara found him guilty.

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Speaking on Nine’s Today, Thaiday was bemused that Flanagan pleaded not guilty.

“There was damning evidence. The slo-mo replay could see clearly there was movement of the nose when it was leaving Kyle Flanagan’s mouth,” he said.

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Thaiday went on to criticise the judiciary’s punishment, stating his belief Flanagan should be missing more games.

“I think four weeks is a bit of a cop out in all honesty,” he said.

“This is something we don’t want to see in our game at all so I think he’s got off pretty lightly with this one.

“I think the NRL had an opportunity to make a statement with this one and I think they missed the mark.”

Last year Broncos NRLW player Ashleigh Werner was suspended for two games for biting an opponent on the arm.

But the women’s season is less than half as long as an NRL one.

If the Dragons make finals, Flanagan will be back for the first match. Jack Bird is in line to replace him in the halves in the meantime.