NRLW Round 4 teams: Kennedy Cherrington handed historic four-game suspension for Laishon Albert-Jones spear tackle

Parramatta Eels skipper Kennedy Cherrington has been handed the biggest ban in NRLW history, after being referred straight to the judiciary for an ugly tackle which saw her sent-off.

Laishon Albert-Jones. Picture: Brett Hemmings/Getty

Eels skipper Kennedy Cherrington has been handed the longest ban in NRLW history, with the Parramatta star copping a four-game suspension for a grade three dangerous throw which was referred directly to the judiciary.

Cherrington was sent off for the ugly tackle during Sunday’s loss to the Knights and showed immediate concern for Laishon Albert-Jones which was taken into account by the judiciary panel of Tarsha Gale, Sean Hampstead and Justice Geoffrey Bellew.

The hearing lasted 50 minutes with the panel only having to determine the length of the ban given she had already pleaded guilty to the charge, with the NRL pushing for four weeks while the defence sought a 2-3 game suspension.

Kennedy Cherrington (R) was referred straight to the judiciary. Picture: by Brett Hemmings/Getty

“Kennedy is disappointed with the tackle itself and wants to make it known that she’s apologetic to Jones,” Eels general manager of football Mark O’Neill said.

“She received a fair hearing tonight and we will support Kennedy through it. She’s looking forward to the time when she returns in four weeks’ time.”

NRL judiciary counsel Lachlan Gyles SC didn’t question Cherrington’s character and conceded there was no intent in the tackle, but urged the panel to come down hard on the rep star as a general deterrent to other players given the risk of injury.

“In terms of risk of injury, this is the worst tackle in the history of the NRLW that I can remember,” he said, describing the incident as a “notorious tackle”.

“There needs to be a strong and unanimous signal sent to all players that they can’t do this. Two or three weeks won’t do that.

“We’re lucky this didn’t lead to a catastrophic injury.

“It’s a bad advertisement for the game. People should feel safe when they play NRLW.

“The tribunal must send a clear message to other players in the competition that this is unacceptable conduct.”

Cherrington was apologetic immediately after the tackle, but was sent off by referee Belinda Sharpe. Picture: Getty Images.

The panel took those submissions on board and reached a unanimous decision after just a 10-minute deliberation, ruling the tackle carried with it a “significant risk of catastrophic injury”.

Defence counsel Nick Ghabar argued five key points including the contribution of Madeline Jones to the tackle as well as the early guilty plea, strong character references and the fact Cherrington didn’t drive the Knights forward into the ground.

Cherrington received two character references including one from Queensland and Australia legend Greg Inglis, while Ghabar also argued that his client deserved some sort of discount given she missed 26 minutes when she was sent off.

Ghabar asked for a 2-3 game ban given that equated to roughly a 6-9 match suspension in the NRL, pointing out that Cherrington won the Veronica White Medal for community service.

He also put forward that the World Cup winner minimised the risk of injury by not driving Albert-Jones in the ground and that she dropped her knees to the turf to avoid adding extra pressure and weight to the tackle.

While Cherrington apologised the moment it happened and didn’t argue with the decision on the field, she will now miss four matches and will only be available for the final two games of the regular season.

Luckily Laishon Albert-Jones avoided serious injury. But the judiciary found it could have ended in catastrophic injury. Picture: Getty Images.

NRLW ROUND 4 TEAMS ANALYSIS

—Pamela Whaley

DRAGONS v RAIDERS

Saturday, 11.05am, WIN Stadium, Wollongong

Dragons: 1. Teagan Berry 2. Margot Vella 3. Keele Browne 4. Bobbi Law 5. Shenai Lendill 6. Tyla Nathan-Wong 7. Raecene McGregor 8. Angelina Teakaraanga Katoa 9. Renee Targett 10. Alexis Tauaneai 11. Sara Sautia 12. Jamilee Bright 13. Kaarla Cowan

Bench: 14. Zali Hopkins 15. Sarah Riorden 16. Roxy Murdoch 17. Maddison Weatherall

Reserves: 18. Cortez Te Pou 19. Cheynoah Amone 20. Taylor Mapusua 21. Macie Carlile 22. Tara McGrath-West

Raiders: 1. Apii Nicholls 2. Madison Bartlett 3. Cheyelle Robins-Reti 4. Alanna Dummett 5. Shakiah Tungai 6. Zahara Temara 7. Ash Quinlan 8. Tommaya Kelly-Sines 9. Chante Temara 10. Sophie Holyman 11. Monalisa Soliola 12. Hollie Dodd 13. Simaima Taufa

Bench: 14. Emma Barnes 15. Grace Kemp 16. Kerehitina Matua 17. Tara Reinke

Reserves: 18. Elise Smith 19. Ahlivia Ingram 20. Jessica Gentle 21. Ua Ravu 22. Ella Ryan

TEAM NEWS

Dragons: Coach Jamie Soward has responded to a 30-0 loss to the Roosters last week by tweaking his side. Winger Cortez Te Pou drops out with Shenai Lendill moving in as a replacement, while Jamilee Bright comes back into the second row. Renee Targett returns at hooker for Sophie Clancy who suffered a concussion last week.

Raiders: Centre Mackenzie Wiki is out with a foot injury, replaced by Alanna Dummett who will make her NRLW debut.

COWBOYS v TIGERS

Saturday, 12.50pm, Totally Workwear Stadium, Brisbane

Cowboys: 1. Francesca Goldthorp 2. China Polata 3. Jasmine Peters 4. Mia Middleton 5. Autumn-Rain Stephens-Daly 6. Tahlulah Tillett 7. Kirra Dibb 8. Tallisha Harden 9. Emma Manzelmann 10. April Ngatupuna 11. Shaniah Power 12. Shellie Long 13. Makenzie Weale

Bench: 14. Sera Koroi 15. Vitalina Naikore 17. Essay Banu 18. Jetaya Faifua

Reserves: 19. Shaylee Joseph 20. Bree Chester 21. Jessikah Reeves 22. Krystal Blackwell 23. Merewalesi Rokouono

Tigers: 1. Pauline Piliae 2. Jakiya Whitfeld 3. Rikeya Horne 4. Leianne Tufuga 5. Josephine Lenaz 6. Losana Lutu 7. Emily Curtain 8. Sarah Togatuki 9. Ebony Prior 10. Christian Pio 11. Kezie Apps 12. Eliza Siilata 13. Najvada George

Bench: 14. Sophie Curtain 15. Imogen Gobran 16. Taylor Osborne 17. Jessica Kennedy

Reserves: 18. Rebecca Pollard 19. Hope Tevaga 20. Salma Nour 21. Bianca Bennetts 22. Folau Vaki

TEAM NEWS

Cowboys: Tahlulah Tillett will play her first game of the year in the halves, while China Polata moves back onto the wing after last week’s heavy loss to the Broncos.

Tigers: Fullback Botille Vette-Welsh will miss Saturday’s game after suffering a concussion last week and has been replaced at the back by Pauline Piliae. Losana Latu has been named to start in the halves for the first time this season.

BRONCOS v EELS

Saturday, 3.10pm, Totally Workwear Stadium, Brisbane

Broncos: 1. Hayley Maddick 2. Lauren Dam 3. Mele Hufanga 4. Shenae Ciesiolka 5. Ashleigh Werner 6. Gayle Broughton 7. Ali Brigginshaw 8. Breanna Eales 9. Lavinia Gould 10. Brianna Clark 11. Tazmin Gray 12. Romy Teitzel 13. Mariah Denman

Bench: 14. Jada Ferguson 15. Filomina Hanisi 16. Chelsea Lenarduzzi 17. Jasmine Fogavini

Reserves: 18. Toni Hunt 19. Grace Griffin 20. Keisha-Leigh Coolwell

Eels: 1. Abbi Church 2. Zali Fay 3. Kimberley Hunt 4. Cassey Tohi-Hiku 5. Monique Donovan 6. Pihuka Berryman-Duff 7. Rachael Pearson 8. Talesha O’Neill 9. Rueben Cherrington 10. Elsie Albert 11. Amelia Mafi 12. Mahalia Murphy 13. Kennedy Cherrington

Bench: 14. Capri Paekau 15. Madeline Jones 16. Shannon Muru 17. Kyra Simon

Reserves: 18. Taneka Todhunter 19. Ruby-Jean Kennard 20. Chloe Jackson 21. Lindsay Tui 22. Tyla Amiatu

TEAM NEWS

Broncos: Ashleigh Werner returns to the wing after serving a two week suspension for biting. Forwards Destiny Brill and Annetta Nu‘uausala are both out with head knocks, replaced by Lavinia Gould and Breanna Eales.

Eels: Kennedy Cherrington has been named at lock despite facing the judiciary on Tuesday night for a dangerous throw. However, half Rachael Pearson and prop Elsie Albert have both been named to start for the first time this year.

SHARKS v ROOSTERS

Sunday, 12.03pm, PointsBet Stadium

Sharks: 1. Jada Taylor 2. Kiana Takairangi 3. Tiana Penitani 4. Annessa Biddle 5. Andie Robinson 6. Emma Tonegato 7. Tayla Preston 8. Ellie Johnston 9. Quincy Dodd 10. Holli Wheeler 11. Talei Holmes 12. Vanessa Foliaki 13. Brooke Anderson

Bench: 14. Sereana Naitokatoka 15. Harata Butler 16. Tegan Dymock 17. Chloe Saunders

Reserves: 18. Maddie Studdon 19. Fatafehi Hanisi 20. Georgia Ravics 21. Fiona Jahnke 22. Cassie Staples

Roosters: 1. Corban Baxter 2. Brydie Parker 3. Jessica Sergis 4. Isabelle Kelly 5. Jayme Fressard 6. Tarryn Aiken 7. Jocelyn Kelleher 8. Millie Boyle 9. Keeley Davis 10. Teuila Fotu-Moala 11. Amelia Pasikala 12. Olivia Kernick 13. Keilee Joseph

Bench: 14. Shawden Burton 15. Grace Hamilton 16. Otesa Pule 17. Mya Hill-Moana

Reserves: 18. Mia Wood 19. Lexi Kiriwi 20. Joeli Morris 21. Lily Rogan 22. Kalosipani Hopoate

TEAM NEWS

Sharks: Fullback Jada Taylor is set to make her return from an ankle injury, while Harata Butler will also return from suspension.

Roosters: The return of Mya Hill-Moana is the only change for the Roosters after their 30-0 win against the Dragons last week.

KNIGHTS v TITANS

Sunday, 1.50pm, McDonald Jones Stadium

Knights: 1. Tamika Upton 2. Sheridan Gallagher 3. Shanice Parker 4. Abigail Roache 5. Jasmine Strange 6. Georgia Roche 7. Jesse Southwell 8. Simone Karpani 9. Olivia Higgins 10. Rima Butler 11. Felila Kia 12. Yasmin Clydsdale 13. Hannah Southwell

Bench: 14. Nita Maynard 15. Kayla Romaniuk 16. Laishon Albert-Jones 17. Tayla Predebon

Reserves: 18. Viena Tinao 19. Tiana Davison 20. Jayde Herdegen 21. Tamerah Leati 22. Caitlin Moran

Titans: 1. Evania Pelite 2. Karina Brown 3. Jaime Chapman 4. Niall Williams-Guthrie 5. Emily Bass 6. Chantay Kiria-Ratu 7. Sienna Lofipo 8. Shannon Mato 9. Lauren Brown 10. Jessika Elliston 11. Zara Canfield 12. Shaylee Bent 13. Georgia Hale

Bench: 14. Brittany Breayley-Nati 15. Stephanie Hancock 16. Rilee Jorgensen 17. Laikha Clarke

Reserves: 18. Hailee-Jay Maunsell 19. Sophie Buller 20. Dannii Perese 21. Destiny Mino-Sinapati 22. Kaitlyn Phillips

TEAM NEWS

Knights: Caitlan Johnston has accepted a one-match ban for a high shot, but has been replaced on the edge by Felila Kia.

Titans: Origin stars Emily Bass and Jaime Chapman have been named to return from injury for the undefeated side.

Originally published as NRLW Round 4 teams: Kennedy Cherrington handed historic four-game suspension for Laishon Albert-Jones spear tackle