Cameron Smith charged for tackle on Titans’ Kevin Proctor
MELBOURNE captain Cameron Smith is facing a stint on the sidelines after being hit with a grade two dangerous contact charge by the NRL match review committee.
NRL
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MELBOURNE captain Cameron Smith is facing a one-to-two match suspension for the “wishbone” tackle which left Titans rival Kevin Proctor with a groin injury.
Smith was hit with a grade two dangerous contact charge by the NRL match review committee following the incident in Saturday’s 28-14 win against the Gold Coast at Suncorp Stadium.
Proctor left the field after the tackle and did not return, prompting Smith to approach his former Storm teammate after the game to clear the air.
Smith will be suspended for one match if he enters an early guilty plea, but if he chooses to fight the charge at the judiciary and loses that will increase to a two-game ban.
Either way, Queensland captain Smith will be available for the State of Origin series opener at the MCG on June 6.
Smith denied he intentionally pulled Proctor’s leg into an awkward position.
“I didn’t try to pull his leg out,” Smith said in his post-match press conference.
“Kevvie is a really good friend of mine and everyone at our club. There was no chance I’d be going in to injure the bloke.
“Whatever happens out of this game with that tackle I’ve got absolutely no control over. All I can say is I’m not in there to try and hurt the bloke.
“I spoke to Kevvie after the game to see how he was going. I made sure I told him I had no intention to hurt him. He was very grateful for me to come over and say I had no intention.”
Titans captain Ryan James said Smith should have been penalised for the Proctor tackle.
“I thought an injury to a player going off would lead to a penalty,” he said.
“It’s disappointing to lose players to circumstances that happen on the field.”
Storm forward Sam Kasiano is also facing a one-match suspension for a head-slam tackle on Titans forward Jarrod Wallace.
The Smith charge is one of eight laid by the match review committee from the three NRL matches on Saturday.
Cameron Munster and Josh Addo-Carr, both of whom can escape suspensions for grade one dangerous contact on Brenko Lee.
Warriors pair Bunty Afoa and Jazz Tevaga both attracted dangerous contact citings from their team’s loss to the Sydney Roosters but can escape suspension with early guilty pleas.
Roosters prop Dylan Napa was charged twice - once for a careless high tackle that drew a fine, and another for dangerous contact on Afoa in the final minute of the match.
He too can avoid suspension with an early guilty plea.
Originally published as Cameron Smith charged for tackle on Titans’ Kevin Proctor