Curtis Scott, Api Koroisau charged after Storm-Sea Eagles brawl
STORM centre Curtis Scott and Manly’s Apisai Koroisau face stints on the sidelines after being charged by the NRL’s match review committee.
NRL
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MELBOURNE Storm’s Curtis Scott can escape with a two-game ban for striking Manly’s Dylan Walker despite the likelihood the Sea Eagles centre will miss six weeks with a fractured eye socket.
The NRL said it would also conduct a review into how sin-binned players were timed after it admitted there was a “breakdown” in the process that allowed Walker and Manly teammate Api Koroisau to return to the field more than a minute early during their 24-4 win over Melbourne at AAMI Park.
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“There was a breakdown of the sinbin process during Saturday night’s game,” the NRL said. “As per the NRL rules, the responsibility of timing for sin-bins is held by the clubs. In this instance, there were no club-supplied sin bin operators present at the venue.
“As a result, the NRL ground manager, who would ordinarily monitor the process rather than manage it, was asked to assume the responsibility.
“Following initial inquiries, it has become clear that during the sin bin period the NRL ground manager was required to deal with an interchange issue requiring urgent clarification and a timekeeping error regarding the sin bin period was made.
“The Manly players were allowed back onto the field before they were scheduled to return. The mistake is unfortunate and it is regretted. The NRL will conduct a review of the process and will discuss measures to ensure the circumstances are not repeated.”
Scott, 20, apologised for the incident in which he was sent off for repeatedly punching Walker in the face.
“While it doesn’t change what happened last night I would like to deeply apologise to my team, Manly and NRL fans for my actions. Not how I want to represent myself, my team, or the game,” Scott said.
The NRL match review committee has levelled a grade-three striking charge, which carries a four-game ban. But Scott can miss just two games with an early guilty plea and the 28-point reduction for each minute he was sent off.
Scott exploded in the 52nd minute with a flurry of punches at Walker’s head and face shortly after being separated from the Sea Eagles five-eighth following a minor push and shove.
Scott was sent off for the outburst, while Walker was sent to the sin bin.
Manly hooker Koroisau can escape with a one-match ban with an early guilty plea or a maximum of two games for running in and striking Scott in the side of the head.