Brent Naden suspended for dangerous tackle on Jake Trbojevic

On Sunday, Brent Naden became the first Wests Tigers player in 20 years to be sent off and now he’s copped a monster suspension.

Bent Naden will watch from the sidelines for at least a month.

Wests Tigers centre Brent Naden is set to spend at least four weeks on the sidelines for tackling Jake Trbojevic dangerously in the Tigers’ loss to the Sea Eagles on Sunday.

When Naden up-ended Trbojevic in an old-fashioned “spear tackle” midway through the second half, he became the first Tigers player since Corey Pearson in 2002 to be sent off.

Naden is the fourth player sent from the field this season, following Mitch Barnett, Karl Lawton and Will Kennedy.

Fox League’s Brenton Speed called Naden’s hit “horrible” in his call of the game and post-match, Michael Ennis declared it the worst lifting tackle of the season.

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After the game, Trbojevic said he held no ill will towards Naden.

“It was a bit unlucky for Brent Naden,” he said.
“I know he didn’t mean it. There was no malice in it and he was very sorry. It was all good.”

The referee sent Brent Naden from the field. Picture: Matt King/Getty Images

On Monday morning, the NRL match review committee categorised Naden’s hit as a grade 3 dangerous tackle – the worst grading possible.

With an early guilty plea, Naden will miss four matches, but if he unsuccessfully challenges the charge at the judiciary, he’ll be rubbed out for five.

If he takes the early guilty plea, Naden won’t play again until July 24.

In his absence, he’ll miss the chance to face the Bulldogs, whom he left mid-season to join the Tigers.

Naden will also watch on as his teammates play the Warriors in a winnable clash for either side, and he won’t be on deck for tough games against Parramatta or Penrith either.

Naden was playing only his third game for the Tigers. Picture: Matt King/Getty Images)

The tackle proved the beginning of the end for the Tigers on Sunday and capped off a disastrous afternoon at the office for Naden.

He suffered a head knock in the first half and appeared at short odds to come back on the field.

Miraculously, Naden passed his HIA but may have wished he hadn’t, as the Sea Eagles’ first two second-half tries both came down his edge.

Naden’s send-off occurred shortly after the second of those tries and ended the Tigers’ chances of victory.

The Tigers were trailing 18-4 when the referee sent Naden from the field but fell even further behind the pace once reduced to 12 men.

In Brett Kimmorley’s first game as caretaker coach, the Tigers lost 30-4 and remain in 13th place on the ladder.