The Wests Tigers’ woes have deepened with back-up fullback Heath Mason facing a one-match ban for shoving referee Gerard Sutton in the back.
With Jahream Bula already unavailable because of a hamstring injury, the Tigers are likely to turn to Sunia Turuva to wear the No.1 jersey as they try to avoid a seventh straight defeat to the rejuvenated – and refreshed – Sydney Roosters next weekend.
Co-captain Api Koroisau will also be unavailable after he displayed category-one concussion symptoms following a tackle in the second half of Friday night’s 28-10 loss to Manly, while Jarome Luai will be on Origin duty, and Tallyn Da Silva is expected to sign with Parramatta or Manly before Monday’s transfer deadline.
Mason tried to get to a Daly Cherry-Evans kick midway through the first half when he charged into the back of Sutton.
Sutton was also the referee shoved by Parramatta’s Dylan Brown as he tried to get to the ball in round 14.
Like Brown, Mason was hit with a grade-two contrary conduct offence, which carries a one-match ban. One of the reasons the match review committee increased the grading of the charge was because of the force with which Mason hit Sutton in the back.
Heath Mason shoves referee Gerard Suitton on Friday nightCredit: Channel Nine
The NRL has for a long time taken a zero-tolerance approach with players making any contact with match officials.
Sources with knowledge of the situation not authorised to speak publicly confirmed the Tigers would not contest the charge.
Balmain legend Garry Jack certainly felt no sympathy for Mason, and said he should have reacted earlier and got around Sutton.
“I think it’s the right decision because you can’t touch the referee,” Jack said.
“If he simply ran into him, fair enough, but he’s run into him and then pushed him over. You just have to run around him. The ball was still bouncing, and Heath had a bit of time to get to the ball before it was grounded.
“As soon as he touched him the way he did, he was gone. In all my years of playing, the referees got in the road, and you’d be frustrated because they would cost you a try. But I never, ever touched a referee. I don’t think I even ran into one.
“He should have been on his bike a bit quicker than what he was. That would be my only tip for him. The league has done the right thing with the charge.”
Turuva has played fullback for Fiji, and is the logical candidate for the back, while Luke Laulilii spent time there against the Sea Eagles.
Adam Doueihi is arguably the best-credentialed fullback at the club – he spent the best part of two seasons wearing the No.1 for South Sydney and the Tigers, including the 2019 preliminary final with the Bunnies – but will be needed in the halves with Luai away with the Blues. The Tigers looked threatening in attack once Doueihi was moved into the halves in the second half against the Sea Eagles.
Hooker Tristan Hope was a late scratching from NSW Cup on Saturday and is likely to feature next weekend. Taylan May, who was expected to make his return to competitive football in the same reserve grade at Lidcombe Oval, was withdrawn because of hamstring tightness.
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