NRL 2024: Fetalaiga Junior Pauga sent-off as Sydney Roosters win 26-8 over Canterbury Bulldogs

The Roosters’ win over the Bulldogs has come at a cost, with Junior Pauga facing a big stint on the sidelines after being sent off for a reckless high shot.

Fetalaiga ‘Junior’ Pauga was sent-off for an ugly high shot late in the game. Picture: Getty Images

Sydney Roosters centre Junior Pauga is facing a four-to-five match ban after being charged with a grade two reckless high tackle on Canterbury fullback Connor Tracey.

Pauga was sent off with seven minutes to go in Saturday’s 26-8 win over Bulldogs in Gosford and on Sunday the NRL’s match review committee came down hard on him.

With an early guilty plea the 28-year-old will cop a four-match ban and be free to return in round 22, but if he opts to fight the charge he risks five weeks on the sidelines.

It comes at a rough time for the Roosters who are already coping with a shortage of outside backs despite moving into the top four.

Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii will be sidelined until round 20 for his hit on Reece Walsh in State of Origin I, while Billy Smith (ankle) and Michael Jennings (hamstring) are both grounded indefinitely.

It means Roosters youngster Ethan King comes into calculations for the vacant centre spot against Wests Tigers on Sunday at Allianz Stadium.

Fetalaiga Pauga is facing a hefty ban after being sent off on Saturday. Picture: Scott Gardiner/Getty Images

Roosters halfback Sam Walker was also pinged for a grade one careless high tackle but will escape with a $1000 fine.

Meanwhile the Warriors will breathe a sigh of relief with Marata Niukore (careless high tackle), Roger Tuivasa Sheck (dangerous throw), Te Maire Martin (dangerous contact) all facing fines for their respective charges.

Titans fullback Jayden Campbell has also been fined for a grade one dangerous contact charge, as has Souths star Jack Wighton (careless high tackle) and Sea Eagles hooker Karl Lawton (dangerous contact).

MATCH REPORT: ROOSTERS VS BULLDOGS

By Matt Cleary

Unless someone channels the demon spawn of David Gillespie and Jorge Taufua, Bulldogs winger Jeral Skelton has wrapped up the NRL’s hit of the season for 2024.

In torrential, even biblical, rain at Gosford’s Industree Group Stadium on Saturday night, Skelton jammed in on Roosters centre Fetalaiga ‘Junior’ Pauga and perfectly timed the crashing of his shoulder into the running man’s sternum.

The shot stopped Pauga dead in his tracks and was genuine car accident stuff reminiscent of the best work of Manly hit man Taufua. Certainly there was little wind left in the 28-year-old Kiwi who was later sent off for a shot of his own.

With sheets of rain sweeping across the ground on the back of 30km/h southerly winds, Sam Walker’s kicking game, Jared Waerea-Hargreaves’ presence in the middle and born-again Brandon Smith’s industry at dummy-half were pivotal as the Roosters outclassed the Bulldogs 26-8 and entered the competition’s top-4.

Fetalaiga ‘Junior’ Pauga was sent-off for an ugly high shot late in the game. Picture: Getty Images

CHEESE NOT TOAST

Smith, in his first game back since round 13 following intra-club disciplinary action, answered his critics with a fine performance in the No.9.

He made 60 bustling metres out of dummy-half, broke three tackles, played the ball quickly and offloaded once. He made 27 tackles and ripped of a 40/20 which led to Walker’s classy grubber and Nat Butcher’s game-breaking try.

Roosters captain James Tedesco said “it was a great response, after last week, for sure.”

“Cheese just wants to play footy. It was hard for him to miss out last week. But he didn’t kick stones and he trained hard to get ready for this week. He was really strong for us and set the tone around the ruck,” Tedesco said.

“And that 40/20, he’s got that in his arsenal.”

Roosters coach Trent Robinson said Smith’s performance was “outstanding”.

“Defensive pressure, really good rolling of the ruck. I felt like we opened their ruck up the longer the first half went on. But really strong carries and a very important 40/20. Great game.”

A pitch invader forced a stoppage after running onto the field in the first half. Picture: NRL Imagery

The pitch invader unintentionally forced a second stoppage after referee Grant Atkins spotted her phone on the field. Picture: NRL Imagery

PITCH INVADER

The game was played at an impressive pace given the conditions but a curly-haired pitch invader in short pants allowed the players a breather in the 32nd minute.

There was a further short break as the woman’s phone was removed from the field.

Ciraldo said his team didn’t stop trying but lamented errors that gifted the Roosters field position.

“I was proud of how we handled the pressure and defended our line. But you spend too much time down there it’s just inviting disappointment into your life,” Ciraldo said.

Connor Tracey was assisted from the field after the ugly high shot from Pauge. Picture: Getty Images

HOT SHOTS

With seven minutes left in the game Pauga was sent from the field when he was stepped by Connor Tracey and flung out an arm that connected flush with the fullback’s head.

Tracey was apparently unconscious before walking, assisted, from the field. Bulldogs coach Cameron Ciraldo said Tracey was “not well”.

“[But] it’s not for me to decide on. I’m disappointed we’re going to lose him for next week,” Ciraldo said. “It is what it is.”

Robinson said the tackle “wasn’t good, obviously.”

“You don’t want to see that. It was tough. We don’t want that in our game. He’s suffering a bit in there, Junior.”

Originally published as NRL 2024: Fetalaiga Junior Pauga sent-off as Sydney Roosters win 26-8 over Canterbury Bulldogs