NRL judiciary news: Tino Fa’asuamaleaui, Brendan Piakura, Ray Stone hit with suspensions for high shots

Queensland clubs have been hit hard by the NRL’s match review committee amid a high contact crackdown, with key forwards from the Broncos, Dolphins and Titans set for time on the sidelines.

Queensland clubs have been whacked by the NRL’s match review committee over a weekend of high contact crackdown, with the Titans, Broncos and Dolphins all copping bans.

Brisbane forward Brendan Piakura is facing three weeks on the sidelines but a fortnight with an early guilty plea for a grade two careless high tackle charge that saw him sin-binned on Saturday night.

Titans captain Tino Fa’asuamaleaui is also set to miss Friday’s clash with St George Illawarra with a grade two careless high tackle charge for his hit on Dolphins enforcer Felise Kaufusi, while Ray Stone has copped the same charge for a tackle on Beau Fermor from Saturday night’s derby.

Fermor and Jaimin Jolliffe have both escaped with fines for grade one offences, as did Parramatta centre Will Penisini (dangerous contact) and Kotoni Staggs (tripping).

Both Fa’asuamaleaui and Stone were also binned on a controversial night for the game’s officials amid a game-wide crack down on high contact that has impacted the first four rounds of the competition.

Brisbane's Brendan Piakura is facing a two-to-three match ban for his hit on Terrell May. Picture: Fox League

Tino Fa'asuamaleaui is facing a one-to-two match ban for this tackle. Picture: Fox League

However, the Broncos have copped the brunt with Piakura’s charge, which reflects his previous offence.

He was binned 20 minutes into the 46-24 win over the Wests Tigers for a forceful shot on prop Terrell May.

Set to face the Roosters on Friday night, Broncos’ depth will be tested with backrower Jordan Riki also suspended.

Piakura suffered a heavy head knock in the dying minutes of Saturday night’s win and was medi-cabbed from the field, while the club is awaiting scans for halfback Adam Reynolds who suffered a hamstring injury.

Piakura will be subject to the game’s concussion protocols.

Originally published as NRL judiciary news: Tino Fa’asuamaleaui, Brendan Piakura, Ray Stone hit with suspensions for high shots