Ex-NRL star Isaac Luke makes stunning allegation about Cronulla Sharks star Will Chambers and New Zealand Warriors prop Kane Evans

By admin On Aug 8, 2021

There wasn’t a lot of love lost between Kane Evans and Will Chambers on Saturday but there might be more to their tiff than meets the eye.

Former NRL star Isaac Luke claims Will Chambers’ Sharks teammates are beginning to tire of his persistent sledging following another afternoon of drama for the veteran centre.

Luke made the allegation on social media after the Cronulla star became involved in two stunning on-field confrontations with rival forward Kane Evans in the Warriors’ upset win on Saturday.

Late in the first half, Evans was sent to the sin bin for striking Chambers after a verbal exchange between the two.

“Diabolical from Kane Evans. He should have known better from that,” 2016 Premiership-winner Michael Ennis said at halftime.

Evans mustn’t have felt the matter was resolved — either that, or he wanted to add another stamp to his sin bin loyalty card — because he slammed Chambers’ head into the turf in the second stanza and went for 10 again.

According to Luke, the sensational stoush had “a lot more to it than everyone thinks”. In a since-deleted tweet, the 2014 Premiership-winner alleged the Sharks “were off (Chambers) after what he said” to Evans.

His teammates may not be on board with it, but Chambers’ sledging escaped the ire of the NRL’s match review committee.

Evans hasn’t been so lucky.

The prop forward has been handed a $1,500 fine for his head slam, and he’ll miss at least next week’s clash with the Bulldogs for throwing hands at Chambers.

That ban will be extended to two weeks if Evans chooses to contest the charge at the NRL judiciary.

Evans’ wallet will be relieved of another $1,500 for his dangerous shot on winger Ronaldo Mulitalo.

Even though the Warriors leaked two tries while Evans was in the sin bin, coach Nathan Brown could see the funny side of the scuffles.

“We had some senior players engaging with Will and I explained to them at halftime that Will can engage in that and still play reasonably well,” Brown said with a grin after the game.

“Our blokes were engaging and not playing well. We leaked two tries because Will was a bit smarter than us. Kano had his moments I suppose, but we got the win and that is what it is all about.”

It isn’t the first time Chambers has mouthed off at an opponent since arriving at the Sharks midway through this season.

Chambers ripped into Manly’s Dylan Walker during round 20, in what was the former Storm centre’s first game since round 15.

Josh Hannay wasn’t as understanding of Chambers’ sledging on that occasion as his Warriors counterpart seemed to be on Saturday.

“I think when you’re behind on the scoreboard I’m loathe for our guys to be too chirpy,” Hannay said.

“Everyone knows that Will likes to be chirpy out there and get under people’s skin.

“It was his first game back for a while and I know he was really fired up and keen to get back into it because it’s been a fair journey for Will to get back onto the field.

“He probably let his emotions get the better of him there.”

With his contract expiring at season’s end, it remains to be seen whether Chambers, 33, will play on in the NRL next year.