Rugby league commentator says Corey Norman's act was 'sexual assault'

NRL commentator Mat Thompson has labelled Corey Norman’s recent bum poking act as ‘sexual assault’.

Former NRL star Norman copped an eight-week suspension from the UK Super League after sticking his finger up Warrington’s Oliver Holmes’ backside last week.

Norman, who is currently plying his trade with Toulouse, was found guilty of a Grade F charge relating to ‘inappropriate contact’ after Holmes and his teammate Danny Walker reported the incident to the touch judge.

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The Australian had pleaded not guilty to the charge, however, the tribunal was ‘entirely satisfied’ that he had intentionally undertaken the act and hit him with the ban and a fine of more than $800.

The former Dragons player was the topic of conversation on Channel Nine’s Freddy and the Eighth show on Wednesday night (August 17).

Andrew John’s questioned the player’s state of mind, asking: “Mate, where's your head at?”

“If you're thinking about doing that do you reckon you care about what you're doing on the field?"

Thompson then weighed in on the conversation after NSW State of Origin coach Brad Fittler attempted to downplay the act and questioned the severity of the suspension.

Fittler said: “I’d rather that than a broken jaw. Like, eight weeks. Is that a long time?”

Mat Thompson then piped in to remind the panel of the severity of the act.

He said: “Without trying to be one of those wowzers, it’s sexual assault.

“If you did it on the street you’d end up in jail.”

Johns agreed with the Channel 9 commentator, adding: “It’s just not on… what are you thinking?”

The disgusting act has popped up here and there quite a few times on the footy field.

Infamously, Aussie rugby league fans grew accustomed to John Hopoate making the act commonplace back in 2001 while playing for Wests Tigers.

The 48-year-old copped a 12-match suspension back then, however, Hopoate didn't do it to just one person – he did it to three.

However, the now-retired player doubled down on the act in an interview in 2019.

He said: “You can either embrace it and make it a joke, or you'll be getting angry your whole life because people will be hammering you about it.

"You just need to embrace it."

Only last year, former Huddersfield player Kenny Edwards copped a 10-game suspension for attempting to wedge his finger up the backside of Catalans Dragons forward Sam Kasiano.

It can be argued that Norman is getting off lightly.