NRL star Jason Taumalolo and four other North Queensland players deserve nothing more than a kick in the backside for allegedly throwing eggs at cars in Townsville, according to federal independent MP Bob Katter.
So says the man who claims to have done the same thing to The Beatles when they toured Australia more than 50 years ago.
Five players, aged 18-25, have been charged with wilful damage and are due to face court next month over the late Wednesday night incident.
Katter said egging was a great Australian pastime and called for the charges to be dropped.
"In my younger days. I was a naughty boy. We threw eggs at The Beatles," he told reporters on Friday.
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"I just hate young people being picked on all the time for being stupid and irresponsible. That's what young people are like.
"Of course, you should get a kick in the backside for it. Should you have done it? No, you shouldn't have.
"I just think the whole thing has been well and truly overdone.
"I ask people to show a bit of humanity and a bit of understanding. We were all young and stupid once upon a time."
The colourful and outspoken politician insisted he wasn't defending their behaviour, but believed most people had done something utterly stupid in their youth.
And for those who say they hadn't?
"I'll point out to you a person that is maladjusted and doesn't really fit into society, and also a person that is telling lies," he said.
Taumalolo is still set to play for the Cowboys in Saturday's NRL qualifying final against Melbourne, while his club investigate the alleged incident.
