NRL NEWS: Wakeham banned for eye gouge, Munster no to Bennett's Dolphins, Ciraldo favourite to replace Maguire

Canterbury five-eighth Brandon Wakeham has been banned for four weeks after inexplicably eye gouging Dragons fullback Tyrell Sloan in a NSW Cup match.

Wakeham pleaded guilty to the contrary conduct charge after an incident in their clash on the weekend when he rakes his finger across the face of the young Dragon as he gets up to play the ball after a tackle.

The Bulldogs playmaker was referred directly to the judiciary for the incident in the second half of St George Illawarra’s win.

Sloan made an official complaint on the day and had his face photographed afterwards to document the damage done by Wakeham.

Thankfully he was not seriously injured.

Wakeham spent a couple of games at halfback in first grade earlier in the season but lost his spot when Kyle Flanagan returned to the NRL side in Round 5.

He was optimistically named in the team to face Newcastle this weekend in NSW Cup.

Off contract at the end of the season, the suspension is the last thing Wakeham needs in his bid to keep his NRL career alive and it’s also not the kind of distraction Canterbury need with their NRL side running last, combined with the fact coach Trent Barrett resigned recently.

Cameron Munster (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)

Munster says he’ll stay at Storm

Cameron Munster says he will not be joining the Dolphins next year and is unlikely to leave the Storm while Craig Bellamy is Melbourne coach in a bitter blow to Wayne Bennett’s hopes of luring the Maroons star to Redcliffe.

Munster, who will line up at five-eighth against NSW in next Wednesday’s State of Origin series opener at Accor Stadium, has been targeted by the expansion team as a potential marquee signing.

He is under contract with the Storm until the end of 2023 and his agent, Braith Anasta, has expressed his frustration over the financial terms of the club’s offer to extend his deal.

Several clubs, including the Dolphins, are willing to splash plenty of cash to get Munster if he leaves Melbourne next season or the year after.

However, Munster said at Maroons camp that his preference was to remain with the club where he has won two premiership rings under Bellamy.

“I love playing with Craig and I know he loves having me as one of his players,” he said.

“As long as Bellyache is still at the club, I don’t see myself leaving.

“I haven’t dished up that (good football) in the last couple of years; but I’m in good form and it’d be nice to go out and have a good game.

“I just want to be consistent; I’m getting paid the big bucks, there’s speculation when I’m not playing well, (people asking) ‘am I worth that money?’.”

Munster is ready to own the Origin arena, admitting he was “just hoping it happened” in last year’s lacklustre Queensland series loss.

(Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)

He spent a month in a wellness facility to address gambling and drinking problems, checking himself in and footing the bill after last year’s infamous white powder scandal almost cost him his Melbourne NRL contract.

The 26-year-old returned for pre-season training in career-best shape and, still on a club-imposed drinking ban, was reflective in camp Maroon ahead of next Wednesday’s series opener in Sydney.

“I’ve gone into Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays hungover, not putting a lot of input in at the club (Storm),” he said.

“And then coming well Thursday, Friday and playing on the weekends. Last year (during Origin) I was in and out of games just hoping it happened.

“This year it’s a different story; a bit fitter and excited to bring a bit more leadership in my role.”

Former Storm teammate and rookie coach Billy Slater said the plan would be to give Munster as much ball as possible.

“He’s important to our team. I don’t know how important the series is to him, but he’s in a really good space at the moment,” Slater said.

“Happy off the field with partner and new baby. That’s helped him on the field and in the last six to eight months he’s worked really hard.”

(Photo by Mark Evans/Getty Images)

Ciraldo favourite to replace Maguire as chairman refuses to rule out sacking coach

Tigers chairman Lee Hagipantelis has refused to guarantee Michael Maguire will remain as coach after the club’s mid-season review or any other staff member for that matter. 

Panthers assistant coach Cameron Ciraldo is the favourite to take over from Maguire if the Tigers show him the door although he probably will not be available until next season. 

Head of football Tim Sheens is undertaking an analysis of all aspects of the club following yet another poor campaign. 

Wests are 4-8 in 15th spot and look certain to extend their playoff drought another year after not making the finals since 2011. 

“Will I guarantee anyone’s employment (following the review)?” Hagipantelis said on SEN Radio. “Whether that be the head coach, the head of commercial or the CEO’s role? No. I will not give that guarantee.

“At the moment, we are somewhat disappointed where we sit on the table.

“Do we need to make some changes? I suspect we do.

“We’ll just leave it to the great man to come back and report to us. We’ll see what he comes back with.”

Taukeiaho joins Dragons

Sydney Roosters prop Siosiua Taukeiaho has signed a two-year deal with Catalans Dragons and will leave the Bondi club at the end of the NRL season.

The 30-year-old prop has played over 150 games for theTricolours and won two Premierships – 2018 and 2019 – and two World Club Challenges in 2019 and 2020.

“The Sydney Roosters has been my home for almost 10 years,” said Taukeiaho. “The club and the people in it will always be very special to me.

“There have been some special times and I’m looking forward to creating many more during the remainder of this season.”

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