Wests Tigers skipper Api Koroisau will miss the opening rounds of next season after being charged with a dangerous throw on Eels skipper Clint Gutherson.
Koroisau was sin-binned for the lifting tackle on his opposing captain with Parramatta scoring three tries while he was off the field as part of the six in total they scored in the second half in their runaway 60-26 win to offload the wooden spoon.
The match review committee has charged Koroisau with a grade-two offence which means he will miss three matches in 2025 and he risks being banned for a fourth if he challenges the judiciary.
The Fiji international hooker may apply to count the post-season Pacific Test championships towards his ban, which could clear him to line up for the Tigers in round one next year.
Fiji will play at least two games in the post-season series, and potentially a third if they make it to the Pacific Bowl’s promotion/relegation play-off game.
It compounds a miserable last match of the season for Benji Marshall‘s side who collected their third straight wooden spoon.
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“We’re going to go through a full review and work out where we need to improve,” Marshall said.
“But I think it’s quite obvious. We let in too many points.
“Our attack got better towards the back end of the season, but we need to find a balance there.”
The Bulldogs received some good news on Sunday morning, with Viliame Kikau avoiding a ban for a late hit on North Queensland half Jake Clifford.
The Canterbury powerhouse can pay a $3000 fine, but will be able to play in their elimination final against Manly on Saturday night.
The Bulldogs need Kikau and the rest of their forward pack to improve significantly if they are to extend their fairytale run deep into September.
Roosters duo Angus Crichton and Siua Wong have avoided suspensions and can pay fines of $1800 and $1000 for dangerous contact and careless high tackle charges respectively.
Crichton went on report in the first half on Friday night but remained afield to continue his stellar form and help the Sydney Roosters to a 36-28 defeat of South Sydney.
As a second offence, Crichton would have faced up to three matches on the sidelines had he been charged with grade-two dangerous contact.
The news is a big boost for the finals-bound Roosters, who could not afford more absences after losing Sam Walker, Brandon Smith and Victor Radley to injury last Sunday.
Crichton will be pivotal to the undermanned Roosters’ premiership tilt, having enjoyed a career-best season in which he won the Wally Lewis Medal as the best player in the State of Origin series.
“Unbelievable, the year he’s had,” said Roosters captain James Tedesco.
“When he’s got the ball, he just creates havoc and creates a lot of opportunities for me and our outside guys. He’s been a big part of our success this year.
“He’ll be a bit part of us being successful in the finals as well.”
Eliesa Katoa is free to play in Melbourne’s qualifying final after the forward escaped with a fine for a hit on Brisbane fullback Tristan Sailor.
Katoa was sent to the sin bin and put on report for the shot midway through the second half of their 50-12 thrashing of the Broncos at Suncorp Stadium on Thursday night.
But it was deemed a grade one offence by the NRL match review committee with the try-scoring back-rower fined $1800 on Friday, in a major boost for the Storm’s premiership campaign.
The independent doctor ruled Sailor did not need to go off for an HIA, suggesting he was not hit high with any force.
