Jack Wighton has avoided a charge for his controversial alleged hip-drop tackle in South Sydney’s loss to North Queensland – but teammates Sean Keppie and Jayden Sullivan haven’t been so lucky.
Wighton was penalised after a sensational chasedown tackle on Cowboy Scott Drinkwater to save a try was ruled a hip-drop, with both Wayne Bennett and Todd Payten slamming the decision post-match.
The match review committee agreed, with Wighton not charged for the tackle.
“I think anybody who has ever been in rugby league will not agree that was a hip-drop tackle,” Souths coach Wayne Bennett said after the game.
“What was he supposed to do, touch him and let him run to the tryline? Because that’s where he was heading. It was a tackle from behind, it was as simple as that. It was no more than that. It was a really good tackle.”
However, Keppie and Sullivan have copped two-match bans, the former for a high tackle on Drinkwater late in the match that saw him sin-binned, and the latter for dangerous contact on Tom Dearden.
Both sanctions can be reduced to one match with an early plea.
Four players were charged from Friday night’s spiteful Suncorp Stadium showdown between the Roosters and Broncos but prop Spencer Leniu avoided sanction for his sideline stoush with Nine commentator Johnathan Thurston.
Leniu has not been handed a contrary conduct charge despite his verbal altercation, however teammate Billy Smith has been banned 1-2 matches for a high shot on Reece Walsh.
Roosters forward Angus Crichton has only copped a fine of $1800-$2500 despite being charged with dangerous contact for leading with his forearm into Broncos captain Adam Reynolds.
His former Rabbitohs teammate was floored by the hit which struck him in the throat when Crichton raised his elbow while making a break as the halfback came in to tackle him.
Broncos forward Jack Gosiewski has been handed a suspension of 1-2 games for a high shot on Victor Radley while teammate Kotoni Staggs has been pinged $1800-$2500 for dangerous contact on Sandon Smith, which sparked a scuffle during the fiery encounter.
Gold Coast’s Brock Gray was charged twice and is facing a fine of $1500-$2000 for a crusher tackle on Christian Tuipulotu and 1-2 matches for a high tackle on Jack de Belin in their heavy defeat to the Dragons in Wollongong.
Panthers winger Paul Alamoti was the only player charged from Thursday night’s loss to the Dolphins, fined $1000-$1500 for a careless high tackle on Tom Gilbert.
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