Charged! Joey Leilua brain snap bites Canberra Raiders again

Canberra let slip a chance to secure a top-four berth and now they face starting a tough run home without their star centre following his lack of discipline in the loss to Manly.

CANBERRA, AUSTRALIA — AUGUST 25: Joseph Leilua of the Raiders offloads the ball in a tackle during the round 23 NRL match between the Canberra Raiders and the Manly Sea Eagles at GIO Stadium on August 25, 2019 in Canberra, Australia. (Photo by Matt King/Getty Images)

Joey Leilua’s poor discipline could hurt Canberra for a second time with the centre set for a stint on the sideline for dropping the knees into the back of Manly winger Reuben Garrick.

Leilua faces two weeks on the sidelines after being hit with a grade two dropping knees charge by the NRL’s match review committee on Monday.

The incident resulted in an eight-point try to Manly, who went from trailing 10-4 to a 12-10 lead before going on to win an enthralling encounter 18-14.

Stream the 2019 NRL Telstra Premiership on KAYO SPORTS. Every game of every round Live & On-Demand on your TV, computer, mobile or tablet. Get your 14 day free trial >

Joey Leilua has been charged for dropping his knees into Reuben Garrick.

The third-placed Raiders missed the chance to sew up a top four spot and face a tough trip to Cronulla to take on a resurgent Sharks side on Saturday night.

Canberra coach Ricky Stuart pulled Leilua aside after the match and while he wouldn’t reveal their conversation, he agreed it was the right call for him to be penalised.

“I think it’s justified. I have spoken to BJ. I do think it was justified,” Stuart said.

“(It was a) massive momentum shift towards Manly. Trying to swing that momentum back is difficult.

“We did but not enough. There were passages of play we were trying to take the easy option more than get in the gutter with them and fight.”