NRL Round 4 judiciary, injury news: Tigers optimistic over Jarome Luai injury scare, plus suspensions from the round

Jarome Luai may be facing a two-match ban for a high tackle against the Warriors, but the Wests Tigers are optimistic over their $6 million dollar man’s troublesome shoulder. All the round news.

The Wests Tigers are optimistic that Jarome Luai has avoided serious injury after the club’s $6 million man underwent a scan on the shoulder he injured on Sunday night - the same one he had surgery on after Penrith’s 2023 premiership win.

Luai was already facing a one-game suspension after being charged with a high tackle on Monday morning but there were fears that would be the least of his problems after it emerged that he was sent for further testing on his left shoulder.

The Tigers’ superstar appeared to suffer a shoulder injury in the second half of the club’s loss to the Warriors at Campbelltown Stadium.

However, he finished the game in a potential sign that the shoulder isn’t as badly damaged as it was two years ago when he nursed it through the latter stages of the season on the way to the club’s third-consecutive premiership win.

West Tigers are optimistic Jarome Luai has avoided serious injury. Picture: Darrian Traynor/Getty Images

Tigers officials are also optimistic that shoulder problem isn’t a serious concern, although he will no doubt benefit from a week off if he serves a one match ban.

Luai underwent a shoulder reconstruction at the end of 2023 which involved taking a bone graft from the front of the shoulder blade and attaching it to the joint to give the shoulder more stability.

The five-eighth has also been hit with a grade two careless high tackle charge for the hit in Sunday’s 26-24 loss to the Warriors at Campbelltown Stadium. With an early plea he will miss just one game, but could cop a fortnight on the sidelines if he fights the charge at the NRL judiciary on Tuesday night.

The contact happened early in the second half of the Tigers loss and Luai avoided the sin bin which follows a recent trend of high shots going unpunished by a 10-minute time out.

However, it will rule him out of Saturday’s highly anticipated reunion between the Tigers and former coach Michael Maguire on Broncos home turf in Brisbane. Adam Doueihi or Latu Fainu will come into consideration to partner Lachlan Galvin in the halves on Saturday.

Meanwhile, Alex Seyfarth has escaped with a $1000 fine for a grade one careless high tackle on Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad

Luai hurts shoulder, cops ban for high shot

Wests Tigers superstar Jarome Luai has been sent for testing on the same shoulder that he had surgery on after Penrith’s 2023 premiership win.

Luai was already facing a one-game suspension after being charged with a high tackle on Monday morning but that may be the least of his problems after it emerged that he was sent for further testing on his left shoulder.

The Tigers’ $6 million man appeared to suffer a shoulder injury in the second half of the club’s loss to the Warriors at Campbelltown Stadium on Sunday night.

However, he finished the game in a potential sign that the shoulder isn’t as badly damaged as it was two years ago when he nursed it through the latter stages of the season on the way to the club’s third-consecutive premiership win.

Luai underwent a shoulder reconstruction at the end of 2023 which involved taking a bone graft from the front of the shoulder blade and attaching it to the joint to give the shoulder more stability.

Jarome Luai is going for scans on his shoulder. Picture: NRL Photos

The five-eighth has also been hit with a grade two careless high tackle charge for the hit in Sunday’s 26-24 loss to the Warriors at Campbelltown Stadium. With an early plea he will miss just one game, but could cop a fortnight on the sidelines if he fights the charge at the NRL judiciary on Tuesday night.

The contact happened early in the second half of the Tigers loss and Luai avoided the sin bin which follows a recent trend of high shots going unpunished by a 10-minute time out.

However, it will rule him out of Saturday’s highly anticipated reunion between the Tigers and former coach Michael Maguire on Broncos home turf in Brisbane. Adam Doueihi or Latu Fainu will come into consideration to partner Lachlan Galvin in the halves on Saturday.

Meanwhile, Alex Seyfarth has escaped with a $1000 fine for a grade one careless high tackle on Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad.

MAHONEY ESCAPES SUSPENSION

Reed Mahoney is free to take on Newcastle this weekend after the feisty Canterbury hooker was put on report twice in Saturday’s win over Cronulla.

While Mahoney has escaped suspension, forward Sitili Tupouniua will be rubbed out for one-week, with an early plea, for a high shot on Sharks playmaker Braydon Trindall.

Tupouniua was whacked with a grade two dangerous contact charge after he was sent to the sin bin in the 80th minute over the high shot. A failed attempt to challenge the charge at the judiciary would leave Tupouniua facing two weeks on the sideline.

Mahoney copped a grade one careless high tackle charge and $1,800 fine, with an early plea, for collecting Toby Rudolf with a swinging arm.

Reed Mahoney high shot.

He also escaped any further punishment for a shot on Daniel Atkinson, while the Sharks playmaker was laying on the ground.

The grade one dangerous contact charge, will also cost Mahoney another $1,800 fine.

Emre Guler. Picture: NRL Photos

CRUSHER BAN FOR DRAGON

St George Illawarra coach Shane Flanagan is set to be without forward Emre Guler for at least three weeks after he copped a huge ban for a crusher tackle.

Guler was hit with a grade one crusher tackle charge on Melbourne’s Shawn Blore.

But as a third and subsequent offence for Guler, he has now been rubbed for three games with an early plea.