‘There was no level of intent’: Reagan Campbell-Gillard cops four-game ban as NRL admits he was lucky to stay on the field

Star Parramatta forward Reagan Campbell-Gillard has been banned for the next four weeks for a tackle that could have warranted a send-off.

Reagan Campbell-Gillard has accepted a ban for an ugly tackle gone wrong, while teammate Maika Sivo is off to the judiciary in a bid to have his charge downgraded.

The Eels will be without Reagan Campbell-Gillard for the next four games after the prop forward took the early guilty plea for a grade 3 dangerous contact charge that the NRL says could have easily been a send-off.

Campbell-Gillard was sent to the sin bin in the 25th minute for dropping his knees into the back of Chris Randall, who was lucky to avoid a serious injury.

The Blues star would have missed five matches if he’d fought the charge and lost at the judiciary, but he’ll now miss crucial games against the Cowboys, Storm, Dragons and Broncos as the Eels try to stay in the top eight.

NRL head of football elite competitions Graham Annesley said there was zero intent in the tackle but conceded referee Chris Butler could have decided to upgrade the penalty on the night to a send-off given the risk of injury.

Reagan Campbell-Gillard will miss the next four matches after he was suspended for dropping his knees into Chris Randall’s back as he made a tackle. Picture: Brendon Thorne/Getty Images

“It is a tackle I would have been comfortable with if the referee had sent him from the field, based on the information the officials had to review,” he said.

“I cast no judgment over any level of intent because I’m sure there was no level of intent in this and that it was an accident and a tackle gone wrong.

“The match officials can only act on what they see. They don’t know what’s in a player’s mind.

“While I don’t think anyone would deliberately go onto the field and commit an act purposely like that, they still have to take action based on what they see.”

Maika Sivo will fight his high tackle charge at the judiciary in a bid to avoid a ban. Picture; Brendon Thorne/Getty Images

While Campbell-Gillard has copped his ban, teammate Maika Sivo is off to the judiciary in a bid to have his grade 2 careless high tackle charge downgraded.

The Fijian winger has been charged several times already this season but can have the ban reduced to a fine if he can convince the panel at the judiciary; however, he risks a four-match suspension if he’s unsuccessful.

He won’t be the only player at Rugby League Central, with Dolphins veteran Jarrod Wallace fighting a grade 1 shoulder charge offence that could sideline him for four games if he’s found guilty.

Wallace has already served a three-game ban this year for a shoulder charge against the Warriors.

The Titans will be without Tino Fa'asuamaleaui after he took the early guilty plea for a shoulder charge. Picture: Brendon Thorne/Getty Images

It’s a different story for Titans skipper Tino Fa’asuamaleaui, who has accepted a three-game ban for a shoulder charge on Campbell-Gillard.

It’s a huge blow for the Gold Coast who were unlucky to lose to the Eels after the officials missed a late penalty that would have put them in front, with their star forward set to miss matches against the Roosters, Cowboys and Warriors.