South Sydney may turn to reformed NRL bad boy Paul Carter to solve their hooking crisis with Issac Luke facing up to a month on the sidelines.
Luke and Rabbitohs playmaker Luke Keary became the latest victims of the NRL’s crackdown on the shoulder charge when they were both cited following Thursday’s win over North Queensland in Townsville.
Keary will only miss next week’s clash with Canterbury if he takes an early guilty plea for a hit on Cowboys three-quarter Justin O’Neill.
More of a concern to the resurgent Rabbitohs is the lengthy ban facing Luke who was slapped with shoulder charge and dangerous throw charges.
Should the New Zealand Test No.9 accept the bans for his shoulder charge on Cowboys halfback Johnathan Thurston and a dangerous throw on fullback Lachlan Coote, he would miss the final three rounds of the regular season.
If he elects to contest both charges, he risks his ban stretching into the first week of the finals.
It puts the Rabbitohs in a precarious position with back-up rake Cameron McInnes out indefinitely with an ankle injury.
Carter’s return to the NRL could not have come at a better time for coach Michael Maguire.
After being sacked by Gold Coast last year for off-field misdemeanours, Carter was thrown a lifeline by the Rabbitohs and played his first NRL game in nearly a year off the bench in Townsville.
He is highly regarded as a hard-hitting back-rower but has also spent time at dummy-half.
In his rookie year at the Titans he spent half the season as the team’s back-up hooker to Beau Falloon.
Maguire was full of praise for Carter following his first outing in the red and myrtle.
“I could see him down on the sideline, bouncing up and down ready to get out there and it’s a real credit to him,” Maguire said.
“He’s worked really hard since he’s been here and he deserved that tonight.
“We’re looking forward to seeing many more.”
The Rabbitohs’ other option is Scott Sorensen – the nephew of former New Zealand internationals Kurt and Dane Sorensen – who plays hooker for their NSW Cup team North Sydney.
The potential suspension of Keary also has the Rabbitohs in a bind after John Sutton suffered a hamstring injury against the Cowboys and missed the entire second half.
If Sutton does not recover, it would leave them without an established playmaker to partner Adam Reynolds.
Halfback Keary was at his aggressive best for Souths but appeared to overdo it in the first half when he went hard at O’Neill.
Keary was not put on report but the tackle was picked up by the match review committee given the crackdown announced by the NRL on the shoulder charge last week.
The Barry
Roar Guru
Yep - tackles like that brutal shoulder charge from 80kg Luke Keary are ruining the game and endangering player safety. They must be eradicated before rugby league turns into MMA. Thank you NRL for protecting me and my children from this scourge. My only complaint is why stop at one week - rub this grub out for the rest of the season before he maims someone.
up in the north
Guest
I think Joey comes across well - so long as he doesn't get dragged off point by Warren & Gould having a lovers spat in the background. Generally he's articulate and knowledgeable about footy but he needs to think before he talks and organize his thoughts before verbalising. Personally I would find being a commentator terrifying.
Steve
Guest
Well said DB, kinda puts it into perspective
DB
Guest
A person commits an offence against an individual and subsequently the society to which all individuals belong. We see some manner of redemption for the offender when they make amends to the society in a way that is commensurate with the damage they caused in the first place. However, some people like to equate an act on a sporting field with making amends for acts that are in no way related to sport. It does say something about some people's view of life.
Squidward
Roar Rookie
Don't know if I'd call Paul Carter reformed. When's it's been longer than 3months since drink driving I might give him a little tummy rub and say good boy It's like the avuaa and Ferguson redemption stories cause they scored a try and now are top blokes and redeemed
Steve
Guest
Come on Matty, even you can see hes terrible
Squidward
Roar Rookie
Johns is quite good when focused. Fittler is likable. Not as good on analysis
no one in particular
Roar Guru
Johns has improved dramatically this season. He has become very good
Steve
Guest
Seriously, does anyone thats not biased think Fittler and Johns are good commentators?
Steve
Guest
The game isn't as exciting now. Who knows what the damn rules are, your right its killing the game. Last night had the NRL app on (another joke by the way) and ended up checking emails and glancing over every few minutes. Doesn't help with the terrible terrible commentators though.
Steve
Guest
A this rate we will have 8 reserve grade teams playing in the finals. There were at least 2 examples of technical shoulder charges in the Broncs V Dragons game last night....if the MRC is consistent they should charge those as well. Most of these so called shoulder charges are just players bracing for impact.....massive over reaction by the NRL. And all because they were to scared to charge Kane Evans for what was a real shoulder charge 2 weeks ago.
Samtwocan
Guest
I'm turning off to watch the women's netball , it's a more aggressive sport than NRL now .
Onballer
Guest
The NRL suspends for a shoulder charge even though all the charging involved is from the man with the ball. Even the AFL a bump like Mason's won't bring a suspension. They are kiliing league.
RT
Guest
Yep he is grubby. If he just played the game I'd rate him but his niggle and dirt is a turn off. I don't think there was much in this charge but he deserve time off for past indiscretions and for playing for Souths.
cedric
Guest
alot said Willie Mason was just stupid for his shoulder charge (more like a lean), as he knew the rules. Well he did know the rules but at the height of the moment and the years spent doing the odd shoulder charge and now all of a sudden you get rubbed out, it's a bit rich. So how many players are now called stupid? I think, by the sounds of their commentary, all the past greats think the new shoulder charge law is a travesty. Well I do too, but worst thing is to suspend players for what has been occuring for how many years. It now appears to me that an instant 10 in the bin would have worked so much better, as it worked for the punch,
Zedman
Roar Rookie
Luke is the dumbest bloke running around, he continually comes up with grubby plays and is once again a liability at the pointy end of the season.
Onballer
Guest
What next NRL? So now the attack can pick out a tackler and run as hard as it likes at them. After the collision the NRL will suspend the tackler for standing his ground. Ruined what was once a great sport.