'They need to throw the book at him': Johnathon Thurston slams George Burgess and says he needs a huge ban for his 'disgusting' eye-gouge that's shocked Australia
- South Sydney prop George Burgess slammed by NRL panelists after eye gouge
- Johnathon Thurston has condemned the grubby move as 'a low act'
- 'Fatty' Vautin described the incident as 'disgraceful', saying 'he'll cop it'
- Burgess was previously suspended for eye gouging late last season
South Sydney prop George Burgess has been slammed by Johnathon Thurston who believes he needs a huge ban for a 'disgusting' eye-gouging on another player.
Burgess was put on report early in the first half of the game against the Wests Tigers at Bankwest Stadium for after stabbing his fingers into hooker Robbie Farah's eyes during a tackle.
The sloppy match ended in a 14-9 victory for the Tigers.
In Channel 9's post match coverage, panelists including Andrew Johns, Johnathon Thurston and Paul 'Fatty' Vautin were unimpressed with Burgess grubby actions.
'In the wild west days, if someone eye-gouged you'd get 12-18 months for it,' Johns said.
'If they're going to be consistent he'll get five weeks.'
But Thurston said this wasn't enough: 'They need to throw the book at him.'
With the footage playing back, Vautin remarked 'he's going in hard, he loses half his index finger!'
Burgess' disgusting eye gouging incident (pictured) on Wests Tigers hooker Robbie Farah
It is the second time in eight months Burgess has landed in hot water for an eye gouge, having been found guilty of the act while playing for England late last year.
The English star was suspended for four NRL games, resulting in a 50 per cent loading on whatever penalty he draws this time around.
'Imagine that was being done to George what would happen,' Vautin continued. 'He'd blow up deluxe.'
'That's disgraceful. You can't do that.'
'He'll cop it.'
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Thurston wasn't finished. 'Gouging and biting, two of the lowest acts in rugby league,' he said.
'If they're going to deter anyone from doing it again they have to throw the book at him.'
'It's a low act.'
Burgess (pictured right with wife Joanna) has been charged for gouging on two occasions in eight months
The Channel 9 panel weren't the only ones condemning Burgess actions, with 2GB radio host Ray Hadley having his say on the matter.
'In the time that I've been involved in Rugby League, there are two things that most people abhor. One is gouging and the other is biting,' Hadley said.
'Gouging has to be wiped out of the game. You're talking about someone's eyesight.'
'Michael Cronin lost his eyesight in one eye in an accident with a teammate, to think that someone did it recklessly is really disturbing in the extreme.'
Burgess has been referred straight to the NRL judiciary for the incident with the match review committee charging him with dangerous contact to the eye.
It's not the first gouging incident this season, with Canberra forward Hudson Young being rubbed out for five weeks for a grade-three eye gouge on Aiden Tolman, as well as North Queensland firebrand Josh McGuire, who has twice this year escaped with a fine for contrary conduct for facials on Cameron Munster and Dylan Walker.
The NRL was forced to defend its decision not to charge McGuire with a more serious offence, arguing neither victim made complaints.
Given that Farah got up claiming Burgess' fingers made contact with his eyes, the Englishman is likely to find himself with a case to answer.
Burgess may be spending more time with wife Joanna (pictured) on a lengthy NRL suspension
