Sebastian Kris given six-game suspension for spear tackle

A horror tackle in the last game of the regular season has earnt a Canberra star a massive suspension, hitting the Raiders’ finals hopes.

Referee Grant Atkins sends Sebastian Kris off. Picture: Jeremy Ng/Getty Images

Raiders winger Sebastian Kris will not play again this year after he copped a monster five-game ban for a shocking spear tackle on Cronulla’s Sione Katoa.

Kris was sent off in Sunday’s 24-6 loss that cost Canberra a home final, with the Raiders wasting no time in taking the early guilty plea for a grade three dangerous contact charge.

It means Kris won’t be available for the finals even if the Green Machine goes all the way, with the outside back set to miss the start of the 2024 campaign as well.

"I can't see any other avenue for the referee here."

Sebastian Kris was sent off for this dangerous tackle.

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Raiders coach Ricky Stuart didn’t have a comment post-match on Sunday about the incident and Sharks coach Craig Fitzgibbon said it didn’t seem malicious

“It is what it is. He didn’t mean it. He didn’t try to drive his head into the ground. It happens in a game and it’s not up for me to deal with it,” he said.

The tackle was one of the worst we’ve seen this season, with Katoa tipped onto his head as he was trying to escape the in-goal midway through the second half.

The winger is fine and will be fit to face the Roosters in Saturday’s elimination final, while veteran Jarrod Croker will likely come in for Kris for Canberra’s game against the Knights.

Bulldogs centre Paul Alamoti was the only other player charged out of Sunday’s games, with the youngster facing a $1000 fine for a high shot on Klese Haas.

Originally published as Sebastian Kris given six-game suspension for spear tackle