Newcastle prop Jacob Saifiti has accepted a five-week suspension for his grade-three reckless high tackle for the high shot on Jake Simpkin which led to the first send-off for the season 15 minutes from full-time.
As Simpkin ran against the grain, he was struck in the head by Saifiti’s shoulder and fell to the ground, apparently unconscious.
Simpkin was eventually able to walk from the field for a head injury assessment and did not return, given the game had only 15 minutes to run – the time required for a HIA.
Newcastle teammate Kalyn Ponga’s playing future is again under a cloud after he suffered another concussion but coach Adam O’Brien wouldn’t say if his captain would face more time on the sidelines.
Ponga, who has shifted to five-eighth after being given an extended break at the end of the 2022 campaign due to repeated concussions, lasted less than 90 seconds into Sunday’s meeting with Wests Tigers at Leichhardt Oval.
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The Queenslander has now suffered four head knocks in the last 10 months but O’Brien wouldn’t say if his captain would face more time on the sidelines.
“I’ve seen him make that tackle 1000 times over the summer, so I’m not too concerned around that,” O’Brien said on Sunday night after the gritty 14-12 win. “It’s too early to say but we’ll just follow the protocols.
“We gave him the summer off, he had eight games off last season, he has some extended breaks.”
With a short turnaround leading into Friday’s home clash with the Dolphins, it’s all but certain that Ponga and co-captain Jayden Brailey (concussion) will be available.
Veteran forward Tyson Frizell and fellow second-rower Jack Johns hobbled off with ankle injuries at Leichhardt.
O’Brien said Adam Elliott (groin) and Kurt Mann (calf) would be out at least a month, adding to the team’s long list of absentees.
Knights half Jackson Hastings has escaped with a fine of $1800-$2500 for his high shot on Tommy Talau, which broke the young centre’s nose.
The incident sparked a confrontation between the former teammates at full-time. Hastings attempted to apologise to Talau on the field but the Tigers centre pushed him away, leading former Knights prop David Klemmer to join the fracas. Security staff and Knights head of football Peter Parr moved in to separate the rival players.
Tigers forward Isaiah Papali’i took an early guilty plea to a Grade 2 Dangerous Contact offence involving Johns in the 27th minute.
Cowboys duo Scott Drinkwater (3 matches for a shoulder charge) and Peta Hiku (2 matches) for a crusher tackle have accepted early guilty pleas on Monday.
Broncos winger Corey Oates had surgery to repair the broken jaw from the Drinkwater hit and won’t return until May.
(Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)
Storm prop Nelson Asofa-Solomona is expected to be out 6-8 weeks after suffering a knee injury in the loss to Canterbury.
Heading into round one, Melbourne had a third of their 30-man squad out injured, with star backs Cameron Munster and Xavier Coates also sidelined last weekend.
They still have Ryan Papenhuyzen, Justin Olam, George Jennings, Marion Seve, Tui Kamikamika and Tariq Sims missing.
Roosters hooker Brandon Smith (back) is in doubt for Friday’s grudge match with Souths while prop Jared Waerea-Hargreaves (back) and lock Victor Radley (concussion) are hopeful of making comebacks.
The Roosters have added Eels forward Nathan Brown with the club set to announce his signing for the rest of the season after gaining a release from Parramatta. However, a hamstring concern means he is unlikely to suit up against Souths.
Joseph Suaali’i was charged with dangerous contact for a late hit on Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad but has opted to pay a fine of $3000 instead of taking a two-game ban.
Dolphins lock Tom Gilbert (dangerous contact) and Bulldogs forward Viliame Kikau (tripping) have taken the same option of forking out $3000 instead of being suspended.
Due to a poor judiciary record, Dolphins hooker Jeremy Marshall-King cannot cop a fine for a hip drop tackle and has submitted an early guilty plea to receive a two-game ban instead of risking a third match out at the judiciary.
Titans coach Justin Holbrook said hooker Sam Verrills did not suffer any serious damage when he picked up a shoulder injury against the Dragons on Sunday night while St George Illawarra debutant Toby Couchman (head knock) could make way for the returning Jack de Belin (calf) in Brisbane this Saturday.
Round 3 teams
Sea Eagles vs Eels, at 4 Pines Park – 8pm, Thursday, March 16
Sea Eagles: Josh Schuster is set to play his first game of the year after a calf injury kept him out of the Round 1 win over the Bulldogs.
Coming off the bye, Manly are likely to shift Cooper Johns back to the bench to allow Schuster a crack at his preferred five-eighth role.
Eels: Nathan Brown has been allowed to join the Roosters. He did not feature in the first two rounds due to a hamstring strain.
(Photo by Hagen Hopkins/Getty Images)
Knights vs Dolphins, at McDonald Jones Stadium – 6pm, Friday, March 17
Knights: Jacob Saifiti will be out due to his high tackle suspension of five games, Kalyn Ponga and Jayden Brailey are all but certain to be missing due to concussions while Tyson Frizell and Jack Johns have ankle problems.
On top of that, Adam Elliott (groin) and Kurt Mann (calf) are out at least a month.
Dolphins: Jeremy Marshall-King has taken a ban of 2 games for a hip-drop tackle. Kodi Nikorima is likely to replace him in the No.9 jersey. Tom Gilbert has paid a $3000 fine for dangerous contact to avoid suspension.
Roosters vs Rabbitohs, at Allianz Stadium – 8pm, Friday, March 17
Roosters: Joseph Suaali’i will be free to play after accepting a fine for dangerous contact while Roosters hooker Brandon Smith (back) is in doubt and Souths while prop Jared Waerea-Hargreaves (back) and lock Victor Radley are hopeful of making comebacks.
New recruit Nathan Brown (hamstring) is unlikely to play.
(Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)
Rabbitohs: Bench forward Hame Sele (calf) may return after missing the first two weeks while prop Tevita Tatola (concussion) should be right after missing the Penrith loss. Jai Arrow is a few weeks away due to his hamstring problem.
Titans vs Storm, at Cbus Super Stadium – 3pm, Saturday, March 18
Titans: Hooker Sam Verrills failed to finish the loss to the Dragons on Sunday with a shoulder injury but he should be right to face the Storm.
Storm: Nelson Asofa-Solomona is out for two months with a knee injury but fellow forward Tariq Sims could be back after a calf complaint. Winger Xavier Coates (shoulder) might also return this weekend but Cameron Munster (finger) is expected to miss at least one more match.
Cowboys vs Warriors, at QCB Stadium – 5.30pm, Saturday, March 18
Cowboys: Fullback Scott Drinkwater and centre Peta Hiku have copped bans for incidents in the loss to Brisbane meaning Ben Hampton, Brendan Elliot, Tom Chester, Laitia Moceidreke and Gehamat Shibasaki are in contention for a call-up to the run-on team. Bench utilty Jake Granville has also filled in at fullback so he could be elevated to the No.1 jersey.
Warriors: Jazz Tevaga made a return in the NSW Cup last weekend after off-season shoulder, hernia and foot surgeries and is likely to be recalled to the top team this weekend.
Broncos vs Dragons, at BlueBet Stadium – 7.35pm, Saturday, March 18
Broncos: Corey Oates being out for two months with a broken jaw opens the door for Jesse Arthars to have an extended run on the left wing.
Dragons: Jack de Belin (calf) is set to make his first appearance for the year and will likely replace debutant forward Toby Couchman, who suffered a concussion in the win over the Gold Coast.
Bulldogs vs Tigers, at Belmore Sports Ground – 4.05pm, Sunday, March 19
Bulldogs: Tevita Pangai jnr is still a week or two away from a return from his calf strain. Viliame Kikau can play after paying a $3000 tripping fine.
Tigers: Tommy Talau (broken nose) and Shawn Blore (head knock) will be monitored during the week to ensure they’re right by kick-off. Fonua Pole also has a knee issue.
Isaiah Papali’i will miss this match after taking the early guilty plea to a Grade 2 Dangerous Contact offence against Jack Johns.
Raiders vs Sharks, at GIO Stadium – 6.15pm, Sunday, March 19
Raiders: Veteran prop Josh Papali’i is a chance to make his first appearance for 2023 after missing the first fortnight with a calf injury.
Nicho Hynes (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)
Sharks: Nicho Hynes (calf) and Jack Williams (head knock) are the only doubts at Cronulla.
Bye – Panthers
Scott Sorensen (concussion), who was replaced by Matt Eisenhuth against Souths, should be right to face Parramatta next Thursday.
Nathan Cleary and Jarome Luai have minor foot concerns but will also be fine for the Grand Final rematch.
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