Carrigan banned FOUR weeks, Klemmer axed, Arthur in for Moses, six of ‘Manly seven’ back

Brisbane lock Patrick Carrigan will not play again until Round 25 after being rubbed out by the NRL judiciary on Tuesday night for four matches.

Broncos coach Kevin Walters did not bother selecting Carrigan for Thursday’s clash with the Roosters after the Maroons forward was referred straight to the judiciary for the hip-drop tackle which broke Jackson Hastings’ leg during the Wests Tigers’ upset win at Suncorp Stadium on Saturday.

NRL legal counsel Patrick Knowles referred to a medical report in the hearing which detailed how Hastings had suffered a “very serious injury” in the form of fractured fibula and syndesmosis damage which also needed surgery.

Carrigan, who entered a guilty plea before the hearing, could have appeared via video link but chose to travel to Sydney to front a panel of former players Dallas Johnson and Henry Perenara as well as judiciary chairman Justice Geoff Bellew.

“I am a little disappointed with the result,” Carrigan said afterwards. “I certainly didn’t have any intent or malice with what happened, but I am obviously aware Jackson will miss a bit of footy.

“I just wish him all the best with his recovery. My focus now is to be as supportive as I can for the Broncos and for the next four weeks help them out.”

The Wally Lewis Medal winner’s legal counsel, Nick Ghabar, said Carrigan was careless in making the tackle but two teammates had contributed to Hastings being bent back in a dangerous position.

Ghabar argued for a two-match ban while the NRL prosecutor had requested the panel impose a suspension of 5-6 matches.

Penrith will be without both their star playmakers until the finals while the Eels won’t have Mitchell Moses on deck for at least a month.

With Nathan Cleary (five-game dangerous throw ban) and Jarome Luai (knee) sidelined, Panthers coach Ivan Cleary is set to hand the playmaking duties to Dolphins-bound half Sean O’Sullivan and five-eighth Jaeman Salmon for Saturday’s trip to Canberra.

Moses’ broken finger means Eels coach Brad Arthur needs a new on-field general with his son Jake Arthur named in the No.7 jersey despite speculation that captain Clint Gutherson could be switched to the halves alongside Dylan Brown with Hayze Perham promoted to fullback.

Knights prop David Klemmer was issued with a show cause notice relating to “on-field disciplinary matters” in Sunday’s home loss to the Bulldogs. He was not selected for Sunday’s road game against Wests and has been stood down until the matter is resolved, according to a club statement.

Cronulla have handed an NRL debut to Kade Dykes at fullback with Will Kennedy out for six weeks with an ankle injury when the Sharks host the Dragons this Saturday.

The son of playmaker Adam and grandson of former back-rower John, Dykes will become the NRL second third-generation player in the space of two weeks after Zac Fulton‘s Manly debut last week.

(Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)

Elsewhere, South Sydney will be without Tom Burgess for Saturday’s Sunshine Coast fixture against the Warriors after he was hit with a grade-two careless high-tackle charge. He avoided the chance of a two-game ban if he had contested the charge.

Manly debutant Alfred Smalley has entered an early guilty plea to cop a one-game ban for a high tackle on Roosters rake Sam Verrills while Egan Butcher is also out of Round 21 after taking a grade-two careless high tackle charge for a hit on James Segeyaro.

The Sea Eagles have the seven players avalable who boycotted last week’s game over the “inclusivity jersey” for Women In League Round: Josh Aloiai, Jason Saab, Christian Tuipulotu, Josh Schuster, Haumole Olakau’atu, Tolutau Koula and Toafofoa Sipley. Schuster has been named in the reserves while Aloiai is out injured with a knee problem.

Kiwi international Brandon Smith will return from a three-game ban for abusing a referee when the Storm host the Titans on Friday night with mid-season recruit, Wests Tigers winger David Nofoaluma, lining up for Melbourne.

Smith called referee Adam Gee a “cheating bastard” during the Storm’s 28-6 loss to Cronulla and was subsequently outed for his dissent.

Cowboys winger Kyle Feldt will be out for two weeks after twinging his hamstring against the Dragons.

All squads will be officially announced at 4pm AEST.

Round 21 team lists

Thursday

Roosters v Broncos, 7.50pm at SCG

Roosters: Egan Butcher is out suspended while Lindsay Collins is unlikely to play again for at least a few weeks after a heavy conussion in last Thursday’s win over Manly. Veteran prop Siosiua Taukeiaho is due to make a comeback after a facial fracture to bolster the pack. Jared Waerea-Hargreaves avoided a ban after copping a fine for his forearm to the head of Sea Eagles debutant Zac Fulton. 

1. James Tedesco 2. Daniel Tupou 3. Paul Momirovski 4. Joseph Manu 5. Joseph Suaalii 6. Luke Keary 7. Sam Walker 8. Jared Waerea-Hargreaves 9. Sam Verrills 10. Matthew Lodge 11. Angus Crichton 12. Nat Butcher 13. Victor Radley 14. Connor Watson 15. Ben Thomas 16. Drew Hutchison 17. Terrell May 18. Adam Keighran 19. Fletcher Baker 20. Kevin Naiqama 21. Renouf Atoni 22. Siua Wong

Broncos: Patrick Carrigan’s suspension for his hip-drop tackle on Jackson Hastings leaves a sizeable vacancy in the pack. Kobe Hetherington replaces him at lock. Young winger Selwyn Cobbo (concussion) is set to make his first appearance since Origin III.

1. Tesi Niu 2. Corey Oates 3. Kotoni Staggs 4. Deine Mariner 5. Selwyn Cobbo 6. Ezra Mam 7. Adam Reynolds 8. Thomas Flegler 9. Billy Walters 10. Payne Haas 11. Kurt Capewell 12. Jordan Riki 13. Kobe Hetherington 14. Jake Turpin 15. Rhys Kennedy 16. Corey Jensen 17. Keenan Palasia 18. Te Maire Martin 19. Zac Hosking 20. Xavier Willison 21. Delouise Hoeter 22. Cory Paix

Friday

Storm v Titans, 6pm at AAMI Park

Storm: After signing last week for the rest of the season, Wests Tigers winger David Nofoaluma is set to make his Melbourne debut. Brandon Smith returns from a three-game ban for abusing a referee. Tyran Wishart replaces Nick Meaney (shoulder) at fullback.

1. Tyran Wishart 2. David Nofoaluma 3. Marion Seve 4. Grant Anderson 5. Dean Ieremia 6. Cameron Munster 7. Jahrome Hughes 8. Jesse Bromwich 9. Harry Grant 10. Nelson Asofa-Solomona 11. Felise Kaufusi 12. Kenny Bromwich 13. Josh King 14. Brandon Smith 15. Tui Kamikamica 16. Tom Eisenhuth 17. Chris Lewis 18. Alec MacDonald 19. Cooper Johns 20. Xavier Coates 21. Jordan Grant 22. Young Tonumaipea

Titans: Pressure is building on the Gold Coast to jag a few wins to avoid the wooden spoon after they dropped to last in Round 20 following the Tigers’ upset win over Brisbane. Halfback Toby Sexton has been dropped with Jayden Campbell back at fullback, AJ Brimson returning to five-eighth and Tanah Boyd getting the halfback duties.

1. Jayden Campbell 2. Sosefo Fifita 3. Phillip Sami 4. Brian Kelly 5. Patrick Herbert 6. AJ Brimson 7. Tanah Boyd 8. Moeaki Fotuaika 9. Aaron Booth 10. Tino Fa’asuamaleaui 11. David Fifita 12. Beau Fermor 13. Erin Clark 14. Greg Marzhew 15. Herman Ese’ese 16. Isaac Liu 17. Jaimin Jolliffe 18. Sam McIntyre 19. Corey Thompson 20. Toby Sexton 21. Alofiana Khan-Pereira 22. Paul Turner

Sea Eagles v Eels, 7.55pm at 4 Pines Park

Sea Eagles: The Sea Eagles will welcome back six of the seven players who boycotted last week’s game over the “inclusivity jersey” for Women In League Round: Josh Aloiai, Jason Saab, Christian Tuipulotu, Josh Schuster, Haumole Olakau’atu, Tolutau Koula and Toafofoa Sipley. Debutant winger Alfred Smalley has been banned a week for a high shot. Aloiai has been sidelined by a knee issue.

1. Reuben Garrick 2. Jason Saab 3. Morgan Harper 4. Tolutau Koula 5. Christian Tuipulotu 6. Kieran Foran 7. Daly Cherry-Evans 8. Taniela Paseka 9. Lachlan Croker 10. Toafofoa Sipley 11. Haumole Olakau’atu 12. Andrew Davey 13. Jake Trbojevic 14. Dylan Walker 15. Ben Trbojevic 16. Martin Taupau 17. Morgan Boyle 18. Josh Schuster 19. Ethan Bullemor 20. Kurt De Luis 21. Kaeo Weekes 22. Brad Parker

Eels: Mitch Moses has a broken finger and will be out for at least a month. Jake Arthur is the new halfback.

1. Clint Gutherson 2. Maika Sivo 3. Viliami Penisini 4. Tom Opacic 5. Waqa Blake 6. Dylan Brown 7. Jakob Arthur 8. Reagan Campbell-Gillard 9. Reed Mahoney 10. Junior Paulo 11. Shaun Lane 12. Isaiah Papali’i 13. Ryan Matterson 14. Makahesi Makatoa 15. Bryce Cartwright 16. Oregon Kaufusi 17. Marata Niukore 18. Ofahiki Ogden 19. Hayze Perham 20. Brendan Hands 21. Sean Russell 22. Elie El Zakhem

Saturday 

Rabbitohs v Warriors, 3pm at Sunshine Coast Stadium

Rabbitohs: South Sydney will be without Tom Burgess for Saturday’s Sunshine Coast fixture against the Warriors after he was hit with a grade-two careless high-tackle charge. He avoided the chance of a two-game ban if he had contested the charge. Taane Milne replaces Jed Cartwright (hamstring) at centre. Blake Taaffe has been named to return to South Sydney’s bench with Kodi Nikorima missing.

1. Latrell Mitchell 2. Alex Johnston 3. Taane Milne 4. Isaiah Tass 5. Jaxson Paulo 6. Cody Walker 7. Lachlan Ilias 8. Tevita Tatola 9. Damien Cook 10. Daniel Suluka-Fifita 11. Keaon Koloamatangi 12. Jai Arrow 13. Cameron Murray 14. Blake Taaffe 15. Davvy Moale 16. Siliva Havili 17. Mark Nicholls 18. Izaac Thompson 19. Dean Hawkins 20. Richard Kennar 21. Shaq Mitchell 22. Josh Mansour

Warriors: Five-eighth Chanel Harris-Tavita may have played his last game for the club as he has a knee injury and is taking a sabbatical from the sport next year. Hopefully last weekend was not the last time he’ll be seen on an NRL field. Bayley Sironen (eye socket), Jack Murchie (personal reasons) and Aaron Pene (illness) all return in a new-look back row. Jazz Tevaga is out with a shoulder injury, Wayde Egan has switched to five-eighth with Freddy Lussick the new hooker.

1. Reece Walsh 2.  Dallin Watene-Zelezniak 3. Marcelo Montoya 4. Euan Aitken 5. Edward Kosi 6. Wayde Egan 7. Shaun Johnson 8. Addin Fonua-Blake 9. Freddy Lussick 10. Tohu Harris 11. Bayley Sironen 12. Jack Muchie 13. Aaron Pene 14. Taniela Otukolo 15. Bunty Afoa 16. Eliesa Katoa 17. Josh Curran 18. Jackson Frei 20. Dunamis Lui 21. Daejarn Asi 22. Adam Pompey 23. Viliami Vailea

Raiders v Panthers, 5.30pm at GIO Stadium 

Raiders: Veteran winger Jordan Rapana is back after serving a two-game suspension, his third for the year, replacing Albert Hopoate.

1. Xavier Savage 2. Nick Cotric 3. Matthew Timoko 4. Sebastian Kris 5. Jordan Rapana 6. Jack Wighton 7. Jamal Fogarty 8. Josh Papalii 9. Zac Woolford 10. Joseph Tapine 11. Hudson Young 12. Elliott Whitehead 13. Adam Elliott 14. Tom Starling 15. Ryan Sutton 16. Emre Guler 17. Corey Harawira-Naera 18. Albert Hopoate 19. Ata Mariota 20. Matt Frawley 21. Corey Horsburgh 22. Semi Valemei

Panthers: With Nathan Cleary (five-game dangerous throw ban) and Jarome Luai (knee) sidelined, Panthers coach Ivan Cleary has handed the playmaking duties to Dolphins-bound half Sean O’Sullivan and five-eighth Jaeman Salmon for Saturday’s trip to Canberra. NSW centre Stephen Crichton is back from his lacerated ear injury.

1. Dylan Edwards 2. Taylan May 3. Izack Tago 4. Stephen Crichton 5. Brian To’o 6. Jaeman Salmon 7. Sean O’Sullivan 8. Moses Leota 9. Apisai Koroisau 10. James Fisher-Harris 11. Viliame Kikau 12. Liam Martin 13. Isaah Yeo 14. Mitch Kenny 15. Scott Sorensen 16. Spencer Leniu 17. Charlie Staines 18. Sunia Turuva 19. Matt Eisenhuth 20. Chris Smith 21. Kurt Falls 22. Lindsay Smith

Sharks v Dragons, 7.35pm at PointsBet Stadium

Sharks: Will Kennedy’s absence with an ankle injury opens the door for Kade Dykes, son of Sharks legend Adam Dykes, to make his debut at fullback.

1. Kade Dykes 2. Connor Tracey 3. Jesse Ramien 4. Siosifa Talakai 5. Ronaldo Mulitalo 6. Matt Moylan 7. Nicho Hynes 8. Toby Rudolf 9. Blayke Brailey 10. Braden Hamlin-Uele 11. Briton Nikora 12. Wade Graham 13. Cameron McInnes 14. Braydon Trindall 15. Aiden Tolman 16. Teig Wilton 17. Andrew Fifita 18. Lachlan Miller 19. Jesse Colquhoun 20. Royce Hunt 21. Matt Ikuvalu 22. Thomas Hazelton

Dragons: Their heavy defeat to the Cowboys on Sunday means the 11th-placed Dragons need to win this game or their finals hopes will be all but over. Coach Anthony Griffin has stood by the same 17 which went down to North Queensland.

1. Moses Mbye 2. Mathew Feagai 3. Jack Bird 4. Zac Lomax 5. Tautau Moga 6. Talatau Amone 7. Ben Hunt 8. Jack de Belin 9. Andrew McCullough 10. Blake Lawrie 11. Billy Burns 12. Jaydn Su’A 13. Tariq Sims 14. Tyrell Sloan 15. Aaron Woods 16. Francis Molo 17. Josh Mcguire 18. Michael Molo 19. Max Feagai 20. Jaiyden Hunt 21. Tyrell Fuimaono 22. Jackson Ford

Sunday 

Bulldogs v Cowboys, 2pm at Salter Oval, Bundaberg

Bulldogs: Second-rower Raymond Faitala-Mariner could be back from a rib complaint to boost the pack for the rejuvenated Canterbury side. He is in the reserves among an otherwise unchanged squad.

1. Jake Averillo 2. Jacob Kiraz 3. Aaron Schoupp 4. Braidon Burns 5. Josh Addo-Carr 6. Matt Burton 7. Kyle Flanagan 8. Max King 9. Jeremy Marshall-King 10. Paul Vaughan 11. Josh Jackson 12. Jackson Topine 13. Tevita Pangai Junior 14. Zach Dockar-Clay 15. Joe Stimson 16. Harrison Edwards 17. Chris Patolo 19. Declan Casey 20. Kurtis Morrin 21. Bailey Biondi-Odo 22. Jeral Skelton 23. Raymond Faitala-Mariner

Cowboys: Star lock Jason Taumalolo has taken the early guilty plea to a grade-one shoulder charge offence and has been fined $3000 rather than risk a suspension by challenging the judiciary. Veteran winger Kyle Feldt will be out for two weeks after twinging his hamstring against the Dragons. Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow has been elevated into the starting side.

1. Scott Drinkwater 2. Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow 3. Valentine Holmes 4. Peta Hiku 5. Murray Taulagi 6. Tom Dearden 7. Chad Townsend 8. Jamayne Taunoa-Brown 9. Reece Robson 10. Coen Hess 11. Tom Gilbert 12. Jeremiah Nanai 13. Jason Taumalolo 14. Jake Granville 15. Reuben Cotter 16. Luciano Leilua 17. Griffin Neame 18. Connelly Lemuelu 19. Brendan Elliot 20. Riley Price 21. Tomas Chester 22. Ben Hampton