Bulldogs back-rower Sitili Tupouniua facing seven week suspension after being charged twice by NRL judiciary

Back-rower Sitili Tupouniua was one of three players sin-binned in Thursday night’s loss to the Broncos and now he faces a massive suspension for two incidents.

Bulldogs back-rower Sitili Tupouniua could be banned for up to seven games after being charged twice by the NRL judiciary including once for a knee to the head of Brendan Piakura which went unpunished by officials during Thursday night’s loss to the Brisbane Broncos.

Tupouniua was one of three Bulldogs charged with Josh Curran and Matt Burton also facing bans compounding an ugly night for the previously unbeaten outfit.

They could face a combined 13 weeks on the sideline with Tupouniua, who was sin-binned in the first half at Suncorp Stadium, facing a four-match ban for a shoulder charge and three weeks for the kneeing incident, two with an early pleas, both involving Brendan Piakura.

Sitili Tupouniua of the Bulldogs is sin binned (Photo by Albert Perez/Getty Images)

He was one of three players sin-binned, but winger Marcelo Montoya escaped any sanction.

Curran though has been hit with a grade two shoulder charge which will see him sidelined for three games with an early guilty plea.

Burton could miss one week after being charged for a careless high-tackle.

In the wake of the 42-18 loss, Bulldogs coach Cameron Ciraldo was noncommittal when asked if the sin-bins were too harsh.

“I don’t know. There was so much going on tonight and no flow to the game,” he said.

“It was one of those games that was hard to watch to be honest. It was a ball-ache to watch for me so I am sure everyone else felt the same. I put that down to us trying too hard.

“We have been pretty disciplined for long periods so we can fix it.

“I didn’t think we had to lose a game to need that sort of lesson. We prepared really well. You just can’t do that to a team like the Broncos.”

Originally published as Bulldogs back-rower Sitili Tupouniua facing seven week suspension after being charged twice by NRL judiciary