NRL Round 4 Casualty Ward: Jordan Riki, Tom Gilbert facing bans

The Brisbane Broncos and Dolphins look set to lose key forwards for upcoming matches after the NRL MRC handed down some big bans following the Battle of Brisbane.

The Broncos have suffered a blow with grand-final back-rower Jordan Riki set to be suspended for two games, including Saturday night’s clash against Wests Tigers at Suncorp Stadium.

And the Dolphins’ dismal 0-4 start to the season has copped another black eye with inspirational captain Tom Gilbert also facing a stint on the sidelines for next week’s derby against the Titans.

Riki is poised to miss Brisbane’s next two games against the Tigers and Roosters after being charged with a grade-two careless high tackle by the NRL match-review committee on Saturday.

The Maori All Stars forward was booked in the 39th minute for a high shot on Dolphins winger Jack Bostock in the Broncos’ 20-12 Battle of Brisbane win at Suncorp Stadium on Friday night.

Riki was lucky to avoid being sent to the sin bin, but he has copped the wrath of the MRC, with the second-rower facing up to a three-match suspension if he chooses to fight the charge at the NRL judiciary.

Jordan Riki is facing a two-match ban for a high tackle.

The Broncos will almost certainly take the early guilty plea, which would rule out Riki for Brisbane’s round 5 clash against the Tigers and round 6 showdown with the Roosters at Suncorp on Friday, April 11.

Meanwhile, Gilbert has been levelled with a grade-two careless high tackle charge for his shot on Broncos centre Kotoni Staggs in the 54th minute of the Dolphins’ fourth consecutive loss.

The Dolphins skipper faces a two-ban match if he fails with a successful defence at the NRL judiciary, but Gilbert is expected to take the early plea and sit out the Titans tussle at Cbus Super Stadium next Saturday night.

Tom Gilbert is expected to miss a week. Picture NRL photos

It’s a setback the Dolphins can do without as rookie NRL coach Kristian Woolf comes under mounting pressure to avert a fifth straight loss and chalk up his maiden win as Wayne Bennett’s successor.

The impending suspension of Riki opens the door for boom Broncos back-rower Brendan Piakura, who produced a lethal front-on shot on Herbie Farnworth in the dying minutes of the Battle of Brisbane.

Piakura has started the season on the bench but is likely to be promoted alongside Jack Gosiewski in the back row to fill the Riki void as Brisbane chase a 4-1 start against the Tigers.