ST GEORGE Illawarra coach Nathan Brown launched an extraordinary attack on Melbourne yesterday, saying he wished Jason Nightingale had headbutted Billy Slater harder during their spiteful clash.

The Innisfail product said a series of headbutts from Dragons winger Nightingale provoked him into instigating an all-in brawl on Monday night.

But Brown said he was insulted by Slater’s defence at the NRL judiciary on Wednesday.

"As far as I’m concerned the only thing Jason did wrong is he didn’t headbutt him hard enough," Brown said.

Slater won a downgrade on his contrary conduct charge after the match review committee pinged him for unleashing punches on Nightingale.

"It was not my mentality to throw punches until I was headbutted three times," Slater said.

Brown also warned of an NRL "bloodbath" unless the game’s governing body stopped turning a blind eye to Melbourne’s use of illegal tactics.

"Jeff Lima kicks Jason Ryles in the scrum, and then Ryles gets sent off for kicking back.

"Ryles should have unpacked out of the scrum and put one on his chin and then when he went down give him more because you’ve got to fight the fire with the fire."

An incensed Brown claimed the Storm were getting away with murder at the ruck, and called for officials to stamp it out of the
game or for other teams to be given the same leniency.

And he warned of dire ramifications should officials continue to ignore concerns from rival NRL sides, with Sydney Roosters coach Brad Fittler and Cronulla and Australian Test coach Ricky Stuart this week both voicing their disapproval of the Storm tactics.

Brown even hinted at a new type of tackle called the "shinboner" – where a defender uses his shinbone to rub up and down the attacker’s Achilles heel – being used on several of his players.

This just adds to the list which already includes, the grapple, the prowler, the crusher and the chicken wing.

"Melbourne have been very, very good at it (and have been) for a long time," Brown said.

"We’re not good enough at it – they’re better at … half of it they invented, they’ll tell you they didn’t. It doesn’t bother me they do it, but what bothers me is the officials in our game keep letting the system down."

The Dragons mentor said he hoped the red and whites were handed another assignment against the Storm this season.

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