North Queensland coach Neil Henry says Kade Snowden’s jaw-breaking shoulder charge on Cowboys hooker Ray Thompson deserved “severe consequences” but conceded a four week ban would have sufficed.
Snowden has reluctantly accepted a seven-game suspension for his hit on the in-form North Queensland No.9.
Snowden was slapped with a grade four shoulder charge by the NRL match review committee on Monday for the 65th minute incident which warranted a send-off in the Knights’ 26-6 loss on Saturday night.
He could have escaped with a four-match ban but due to loading applied because of two prior offences, Snowden faced a nine-week ban if he unsuccessfully fought the charge.
While clearly upset about Thompson’s injury which left his hooker with three metal plates and 10 screws in his face after a 1cm jaw displacement, Henry said he would have been happy with a month-long ban on the Knights forward.
“I thought four to five weeks was probably where it was at and that’s where they have come in with (before loading was applied),” Henry said.
“They have compared it with other shoulder charges and there is no doubt that the point of the shoulder connected with severe force to Ray’s head.
“They are there to protect the players and the integrity in the game and I think an illegal play like that needs severe consequences.”
The big shoes left by Thompson will be filled by Rory Kostjasyn for Sunday’s must win away clash at Cronulla with rookie No.9 Jayden Hodges his surprise back-up hooker.
The 19-year-old Hodges will be thrown into the deep end as the Cowboys look to extend their four game winning run to earn a last gasp finals berth.
Remarkably the Cowboys are in the top eight barely a month after Henry was told by the North Queensland board his services were not required next year.
But they must keep winning to keep their top eight hopes alive, setting up a pressure-cooker NRL debut for Hodges.
But Henry believed the teenager was up to the task.
“I think he can really add a bit of impact around the ruck area,” Henry said.
“It’s his debut and a tough ask, Cronulla at Cronulla and they can play some tremendous footy as we saw last night (in their win over ladder leaders Sydney Roosters).”
While excited about Hodges’ promise, not much could dull Henry’s frustration over Thompson’s shocking injury.
“It’s just disappointing. He’s had shoulder reconstructions and now this,” he said.
“He’s playing good football in a team that’s got a bit of momentum.
“I feel sorry for Ray. He’s a tough competitor who works extremely hard on his game.”
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