A Northern Sharks player will miss the final NRL NT regular season game through suspension

A Darwin rugby player will miss the final week of the NRL NT home-and-away season after being suspended for a reckless high tackle.

A NORTHERN Sharks second rower will miss the final week of the NRL NT home-and-away season after being suspended for a reckless high tackle against South Darwin.

The tackle from Sharks forward Alex Maniju occurred as Rabbitohs’ half back Bailey Zaro put through a chip kick in the midfield in the 29th minute of the A-grade round 14 match.

Maniju stuck his arm out as he came through to disrupt the kick, collecting Zaro’s chin in process.

The Sharks player, who has played five A-grade games in the 2021 season, didn’t follow through with tackle but was put on report, with the tackle later deemed reckless and high.

Sharks went on to win the game 60-0 in rampant fashion, with Souths forfeiting with 15 minutes left on the clock due to a player shortage.

As Maniju has gone two years incident free the base penalty for the charge would have seen him miss two games but he took the early guilty plea resulting in a one match ban.

Nightcliff Dragons’ Dain Smith also faced a charge following his side’s round 14 match against Darwin Brothers.

Smith was charged with offensive language and sent from the field after making comment towards the referee in the 66th minute of the game.

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The base penalty for the charge is one match ban, however as Smith is two years incident free and made an early guilty plea he is able to return to the field for the round 15 game against Litchfield.

Nightcliff went on to beat Brothers 32-18, with the Brethren clawing some of the score back throughout the second half.