NRL 2023: Finucane, Niukore and Okunbor all banned; Dragons trio escape punishment
The NRL has slapped big bans on a trio of players accused of committing hip drop tackles on Sunday. See full Casualty Ward here.
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Cronulla’s Dale Finucane has been slapped with a three-match ban for a hip-drop tackle in Sunday’s loss to the Warriors.
The NRL’s match review has doubled down on its crackdown on the dangerous tackle, also hitting Marata Niukore and Jayden Okunbor with suspensions.
Finucane has been charged with grade two dangerous contact on New Zealand Warriors fullback Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad.
If the Sharks forward opts to fight the charge at the judiciary but loses, he will be wiped out for four weeks.
Niukore is facing two weeks on the sideline for a grade two charge for his hip drop tackle on Siosifa Talakai.
Canterbury’s Jayden Okunbor was also whacked with a one-game ban for the same tackle on North Queensland’s Jason Taumalolo.
DRAGONS DUO CHARGED OVER FIERY VICTORY
The Dragons have dodged a bullet with Jack de Belin free to play next week after he was hit with a fine instead of a ban for his cannonball tackle on Ray Stone.
De Belin can accept a $1000 fine if he takes the early guilty plea for a grade one dangerous contact charge stemming from a tackle just before halftime in Saturday’s 38-12 win over the Dolphins.
The tackle sparked a melee with fears the workhorse lock would be banned in what was his first game back from a calf injury that ruled him out of the start of the season.
The good news continues for the Red V with Mikaele Ravalawa also free to play next week with the winger facing a $1000 fine for his careless high shot on Euan Aitken, while Jaydn Su’A was placed on report but wasn’t charged for his high tackle, although he’s dealing with a calf issue that saw him forced off in the first half.
The Tigers have also had a very rare win – although they don’t get two competition points for it – with Fonua Pole (crusher tackle) and Junior Tupou (shoulder charge) both dodging bans for their grade one offences on Brisbane’s Kotoni Staggs.
The pair can accept $1500 fines if they take the early guilty plea, while the ban would bump up to $2000 if they fight and lose at the judiciary.
Knights back-rower Lachlan Fitzgibbon is looking at a $1000 fine for a high shot on Sean Keppie that saw him sent to the sin bin, while Dolphins big man Herman Ese’ese can pay the same amount if he takes the early guilty plea for dangerous contact.
DOLPHINS INJURY CRISIS
The Dolphins enjoyed a dream start to life in the NRL but the harsh reality of first grade is about to sink in with their depth set to be tested after Anthony Milford limped off early with a hamstring injury in their loss to the Dragons on Saturday.
It’s a hammer blow for a side that will be without halfback Sean O’Sullivan for at least the next three months after he ruptured a pec last week, with Kodi Nikorima the most likely option to slot into the halves for the trip to Townsville.
Wayne Bennett confirmed Milford would likely be sidelined for some time.
“Anthony could be out for three or four weeks, we will have to deal with it,” Bennett said.
Meanwhile, Dragons backrower Jaydn Su’A limped off with a calf complaint midway through the first half.
ANOTHER NRL STAR HEADING TO USA FOR HAMMY REHAB
Warriors x-factor Luke Metcalf has become the latest NRL player to travel to the US to work with renowned American rehab and conditioning expert Bill Knowles.
One of the NRL’s most exciting players, Metcalf’s career has been placed on hold due to a serious hamstring injury suffered during the club’s pre-season trial last February.
Metcalf, who moved from the Sharks to the Warriors on a two-year deal, had enjoyed a superb pre-season and was widely tipped to start 2023 at five-eighth under rookie coach Andrew Webster.
That was until Metcalf suffered the major hamstring injury in the Warriors trial match with the Wests Tigers.
Having spent the past seven weeks on the sidelines, coupled with his history of hamstring complaints following an ACL tear in 2019, Metcalf flew to Philadelphia last weekend with Warriors high performance coach Matt Toohey.
They are due to return this week in the hope that Metcalf will be fit for selection within the next two rounds.
Rabbitohs star Latrell Mitchell, Storm speedster Ryan Papenhuyzen and Manly marquee fullback Tom Trbojevic have both made successful returns from hamstring injuries after visiting Knowles at his rehabilitation centre.
Warriors CEO Cameron George held a meeting with Rabbitohs CEO Blake Solly to discuss the benefits of visiting Knowles before booking the former NSW under-18’s strike weapon a flight to the US.
“Luke has had some issues in the past with his hamstring and we just want to give him the best opportunity to be fit and healthy,” George said.
“We really believe in Luke. He‘s a talent and we truly think he’s got a big future with us.
“We’ve obviously seen the success of other rugby league players there and because we’re invested in Luke, we think it’s a smart move to try and get something out of it, not only for him, but for us all as a club.
“It’s a two-pronged learning attack for Luke and our high performance staff.’’
Nicknamed ‘Zippy” due to his lightning speed, Metcalf, 24, scored three tries in seven games for the Sharks between 2021 and 2022.
‘INCREDIBLY POSITIVE’: PONGA DROPS HINT ON NRL RETURN
By: Brent Read, Michael Carayannis
Newcastle superstar Kalyn Ponga has hinted at an impending return to the NRL after describing his trip to Canada to visit brain specialists as incredibly positive and an opportunity to blaze a trail for other athletes dealing with concussion.
Ponga is due to return to Newcastle over the weekend, having spent the past week undergoing testing at HealthTech Connex, a Centre for Neurology Studies about 34 kilometres south of Vancouver on the US-Canada border.
The Knights and Queensland star hasn’t played since suffering a head knock against the Wests Tigers three weeks ago, the latest blow sparking fresh speculation over his immediate future.
The Knights have refused to put a time frame on his comeback, although Ponga suggested it may not be far away after posting a message on social media on Friday afternoon where he indicated he would be back soon.
“To those that support me, this trip has been incredibly positive and the goal of finding more information has been achieved,” Ponga said.
“I have clarity around what I need to do for my recovery but not only that, how I can improve my brain function and performance has been reassuring for me.
“Due to confidentiality there is information that I will keep in house with my medical team but I am excited by the opportunity my case will provide for other athletes in a similar situation as me.
“I’ll be back soon.”
Ponga’s return comes as Sydney Roosters captain James Tedesco deals with the latest head knock of his career, having failed a head injury assessment after being caught high by Parramatta winger Bailey Simonsson on Thursday night.
Tedesco will be forced to miss at least one game due to the NRL’s mandatory 11-day stand down period.
HealthTech Connex is home to Neurocatch, described on their website as an industry-leading medical device that offers an objective evaluation of cognitive function.
News Corp understands that Ponga underwent testing using the Neurocatch device to analyse his brain function and potentially determine when he could be fit to return to the NRL.
The test takes as little as six minutes and produces a report immediately to display information on three different brain responses – auditory and sensory responses, basic attention and cognitive processing.
The results are then measured against a normal map of the brain to determine whether there is any cognitive impairment.
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