7 hours ago
‘I absolutely hate it': Karl Lawton cops ban for tackle that injured Siua Wong, Eels duo in hot water for dangerous throws
Cowboys hooker Karl Lawton is one of three players facing multi-week suspensions after he was charged for a tackle that will likely sideline Roosters young gun Siua Wong for at least a month and left Immortal Andrew Johns incensed.
Lawton was hit with a grade 3 dangerous contact charge for the first-half incident that forced Wong from the field with a suspected MCL injury to his left knee.
Wong was held upright by two defenders before Lawton came in and collected him directly on the knee.
'I hate that third man in, I absolutely hate it,' Johns said in commentary.
The Bunker looked at the incident but didn't advise the referee to award the Roosters a penalty, with Wong the latest player from the club to suffer an MCL injury.
Teammate Nat Butcher suffered a similar injury earlier this year as a result of foul play that wasn't penalised on the field but resulted in a two-game ban for Penrith's Mitch Kenny.
'I don't know about that one. I looked at it quickly and moved on,' Roosters coach Trent Robinson said after the game.
'We've had some MCLs this year, I think that's our fifth. We've had lots of six-week (injuries), with MCLs taking out five of them, which has been really difficult.
'That's up for someone else (to judge the penalty), but it's been a tough one for MCLs for us this year.'
Lawton will miss two games if he takes the early guilty plea but risks an extra match if he fights the charge and loses.
The Eels are also counting the cost of Sunday's win over the Titans with two players facing bans for dangerous throws.
Centre Will Penisini is looking at 3-4 weeks on the sidelines after he was hit with a grade 2 dangerous throw charge for a lifting tackle on Beau Fermor in the final few plays that led to a stint in the sin bin.
Teammate Ryley Smith can accept a two-match ban for a tackle that landed Phil Sami in an ugly position.
