NRL has down 19 weeks worth of suspensions for five players
Parramatta could lose two star players for a month after the NRL handed down some massive bans on Monday.
Parramatta’s finals hopes have taken a huge hit with stars Reagan Campbell-Gillard and Maika Sivo facing monster bans, while the Gold Coast’s slim chances of making the top eight are all but over with Tino Fa’asuamaleaui set to miss the next three games after a spiteful Sunday night clash at CommBank Stadium.
The Eels picked up two crucial competition points thanks to a late Mitch Moses field goal, but it’s come at a massive cost with Campbell-Gillard facing a four-week ban if he takes the early guilty plea for an ugly act that saw him drop his knees into Chris Randall’s back.
The grade three dangerous contact charge is his third and subsequent offence, with the Blues prop risking a five-game ban if he fights it and loses at the judiciary.
Eels teammate Maika Sivo is also looking at a 3-4 week ban for his grade two careless high tackle on Jojo Fifita.
Both players were sent to the sin bin, with Sivo’s poor record catching up with him, although he can have it reduced to a fine if he has the charge downgraded.
Maika Sivo has been sent to the sin bin for high forceful contact on Jojo Fifita.
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The Eels are in seventh spot but could drop out next week if they lose to the Cowboys who are the hottest team in the league right now.
Sunday’s game has also proved costly for the Titans with Fa’asuamaleaui facing 3-4 weeks on the sidelines a shoulder charge on Campbell-Gillard in the first play of the second half.
The Maroons star has been their best player this season and they can’t afford to lose him for a long stretch, although he did avoid a charge for a high fend on Moses that saw him penalised.
Dolphins veteran Jarrod Wallace is facing a similar ban for a shoulder charge on Penrith’s Spencer Leniu having already been banned for three games earlier in the year for a shoulder charge on Rocco Berry.
The total of bans handed out equals 19 weeks, although that would be reduced to 13 should all players take an early guilty plea, including Dolphins veteran Felise Kaufusi who could escape with a $3000 fine for his high tackle on Zac Hosking which comes with a two-week suspension if he takes it to the judiciary.