Wests Tigers half Aiden Sezer is facing a ban of five matches after he was one of 10 players charged after a spiteful Saturday schedule of three matches in the NRL.
Sezer was charged with grade-three dangerous contact for a hip-drop tackle on Canterbury forward Josh Curran during the Tigers’ loss at Accor Stadium.
Due to a poor judiciary record dating back to his stint in the Super League, he will be banned for four weeks with an early guilty plea or risk a fifth match out if he challenges the verdict at the judiciary.
Bulldogs duo Samuel Hughes and Tigers veteran David Klemmer are facing fines of two-game bans for contrary conduct towards referee Kasey Badger while Wests forward Alex Seyfarth ($1500-$2000) was also pinged for striking.
He was sin-binned after appearing to headbutt Reed Mahoney during a skirmish involving several players.
Mahoney was charged with contrary conduct ($1800-$2500) for his part in the incident and was also given a $2500 fine or two-match ban for a dangerous throw on Tigers cub Solomon Alaimalo.
Titans hooker Chris Randall ($1000-$1500 for a high tackle), Storm forward Joe Chan ($1000-$1500 for dangerous contact), Dolphins second-rower Felise Kaufusi ($1000-$1500 for a high tackle) and Cowboys fullback Scott Drinkwater ($1000-$1500 for dangerous contact) are all set to cop a finanical hit.
From Friday night’s games, Manly veteran Nathan Brown could be banned but is likely to cop a fine after he was one of four players charged by the match review committee from the two games.
Brown was charged with grade-two dangerous for an incident involving Josh Papalii and risks a two-game ban if he challenges the judiciary so he is almost certain to cop a $3000 hit to the hip pocket.
Canberra prop Emre Guler will be slugged $1800 to $2500 for a high shot on Tolutau Koula in his team’s win over Manly, lock Morgan Smithies is looking at $1500 to $2000 for a crusher tackle while Brisbane winger Deine Mariner has the same punishment for a shoulder charge on James Tedesco in Brisbane’s loss to the Roosters.
Earlier in the round, Panthers centre Izack Tago was slapped with a ban after a hip drop tackle that left Jye Gray with a syndesmosis injury that could rule him out for several weeks.
Tago was binned for his part in the tackle in the early stages of his side’s victory over South Sydney on Thursday night and will now sit out Penrith’s home match against the Bulldogs next Friday night. He can appeal, but would then be a doubt for their Magic Round meeting with the Warriors.
Jacob Host was also sat down during the same game after making contact with the legs of Panthers kicker Brad Schneider.
He has been charged and faces two games on the sidelines, three if Souths dispute the grading. That rules the backrower out of next Saturday’s trip to Kogarah to face the Dragons and the Cowboys at Magic.
Tago’s suspension looked likely from the moment the tackle was made.
Host is set to join a long list of outs at Souths, who also lost Gray (ankle) and halfback Dean Hawkins (quad) to injuries in the club’s first game since firing coach Jason Demetriou on Tuesday.
Campbell Graham, Lachlan Ilias, Tyrone Munro, Tevita Tatola and Richie Kennar are also out injured, but Latrell Mitchell is due back from suspension to face the Dragons next Saturday at Kogarah.
Glory Bound
Roar Rookie
After Kaufusi lost his NRL Triumvirate protection when he was playing for the Dolphins. That would never have happened if he was playing for the Panthers, the Roosters or the Storm.
Succhi
Roar Rookie
If coaches and players spent more time learning correct tackling techniques and less time on wrestling techniques, we would have these issues.
Andrew01
Roar Rookie
Worth pointing out the bunker didn't even put Sezer in the sin bin. But before you criticise the Bunker, they might have thought the Tigers were at a greater disadvantage with him on the field. And they were. Moments later Burton jogged passed Sezer, setting up the Xerri try. And he dropped a ball cold, mid field a set or two later. Then the following set got tackled on the fifth, putting himself out of play for the kick down field and Galvin promptly went to kick the ball down field and it went sideways.. So i think they go that one right.
Maxtruck
Roar Rookie
Hip drop Sezer on Curran, Curran plays on Sezer gets 5 weeks. Hip drop Tago on Gray, Grey surgery and out for 8 weeks, Tago gets 1 week. How does the NRL come up with these decisions ? Are they using an old bingo ball tumbler?
farkurnell
Roar Rookie
Hip drops are a recent phenomenon,clubs employing Wrestling Coaches is also a recent development.The strategy is to get players on there back to slow down the Tackle Ruck - the turtle effect. It’s also cause and effect , the Seizer Tackle is a classic example- trying to get the opponent on his back as quickly as possible. If they ban Wrestling Coaches then these injuries would dissipate. Is the NRL trying to forge a new partnership with the WWE ?
NQR
Roar Rookie
They put Kaufusi for a majority of last season for tackling people to hard.
NQR
Roar Rookie
Tago committed 2 high shots last weekend and got zip. It would appear some are treated differently.
Short Memory
Roar Rookie
Maybe 'Bud' Sullivan was on the MRC?
BigGordon
Roar Rookie
At some point very soon, the NRL badly needs to sort out the gradings and penalties for the various indiscretions. It's clear that penalties are not fitting the crimes, ie a bloke puts a player out of action for a month and a half, yet misses maybe 2 games and the fines are certainly not acting as any sort of a deterrent.
BillBolshie
Roar Rookie
My question is: How can you (Sezer) do a hip-drop tackle with one foot either side of the person you are tackling. Sezer pulled him down backwards and is at best guilty of tripping.
Horses for Courses
Roar Rookie
I need someone to explain to me how Tago got 1 week and Sezer got 4? Someone please make this make sense before I drive myself crazy.
Glory Bound
Roar Rookie
I think that's fair unless there is clear evidence that it was in fact accidental. Clear intent, like Tago on Gray or Taylan May on Reece Walsh deserves harsher punishment. Just think back to Felise Kaufusi's head slam and forearm to the jaw of Ryan Matterson who was out for about 9 weeks while Kaufusi got a 2 week suspension.
Nathan Absalom
Roar Guru
I'll be honest, I don't really know what I'm supposed to be looking at with the hip drops, but I haven't really tried that hard.
Short Memory
Roar Rookie
It's puzzling when Lachie Galvin got 2 weeks for the same thing.
Nathan Absalom
Roar Guru
Well, it's also about risk. They are obviously concluding that the actions of Host were of higher risk of injury than Tago. Dunno how, but who are we mere mortals to question the infinite wisdom of the NRL?
Dumbo
Roar Rookie
"Izack Tago has been slapped with a ban after a hip drop tackle that left Jye Gray with a syndesmosis injury that could rule him out for weeks." Am I the only one who is exasperated at the light treatment given to offenders compared to the victims? If the player who has been fouled is out for six weeks, then the guy who fouled him should ALSO be out for the six weeks, PLUS however long the judiciary decides is a sensible suspension (one week or two weeks or whatever).
Short Memory
Roar Rookie
I totally get why it's a sin bin, but I actually felt bad for Host. He was trying his guts out to put in an effort play when half his team mates had thrown in the towel and he got the timing wrong.