Wests Tigers captain and Fijian football star Api Koroisau will be sidelined for the Pacific Championships after receiving a three-match suspension for a dangerous tackle during his team’s defeat to the Eels.
Koroisau’s tackle on Clint Gutherson in the 52nd minute was classified as a Grade 2 offense, and since this was his second violation, it resulted in a three-game suspension following an early guilty plea.
The Fijian national team, known as the Bati, will begin their Pacific Bowl campaign against Papua New Guinea on Saturday, October 19, in Fiji, followed by a match against the Cook Islands the following week.
The champion of the Pacific Bowl will compete against the third-placed team from the Pacific Cup in a promotion-relegation match set for Sunday, November 10, at CommBank Stadium, for a spot in the following year’s tournament.
In other disciplinary news, retiring Dolphins captain Jesse Bromwich received a one-game suspension for a dangerous contact offense during his last NRL match. Bromwich’s tackle on Kalyn Ponga was assessed as a Grade 2, leading to a one-game ban after an early guilty plea.
Sharks back-rower Teig Wilton accepted an early guilty plea to a dangerous contact charge and received a $1,000 fine. Bulldogs forward Viliame Kikau was fined $3,000 for dangerous contact after hitting Cowboys halfback Jake Clifford during a game at Accor Stadium. If Kikau had contested the charge and lost, he would have faced a two-game suspension.
Gold Coast veteran Kieran Foran was charged with two careless high tackle offenses following a match against the Panthers, each carrying a $750 fine if he pleaded guilty early. Canberra’s Hudson Young and St. George Illawarra’s Jack de Belin were both fined $1,800 after pleading guilty to careless high tackle and dangerous contact charges, respectively. Roosters players Angus Crichton and Siua Wong also accepted fines for dangerous contact and careless high tackle offenses with early pleas.
Lastly, Melbourne forward Eliesa Katoa avoided suspension for a tackle on Tristan Sailor, which resulted in a sin binning during Thursday’s victory over the Broncos.