Api Koroisau, the captain of the Wests Tigers and a beloved figure in Fiji, will be sidelined for the Pacific Championships due to a three-match suspension for a Dangerous Throw during his team’s defeat to the Eels.
The incident occurred in the 52nd minute at Campbelltown Sports Stadium when Koroisau tackled Clint Gutherson. This tackle was classified as a Grade 2 offence, and since it was Koroisau’s second violation, he received a three-game ban with an early guilty plea.
Fiji’s national team, 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 winner of the Pacific Bowl will face the third-placed team in the Pacific Cup at CommBank Stadium on Sunday, November 10, in a promotion-relegation match for next year’s tournament.
In other disciplinary news, retiring Dolphins captain Jesse Bromwich received a one-game suspension for a Dangerous Contact offence during his last match in the NRL. Bromwich’s tackle on Kalyn Ponga in the 68th minute of the match was also rated as a Grade 2, leading to a one-game ban with an early guilty plea.
Sharks back-rower Teig Wilton accepted an early guilty plea for a Dangerous Contact charge and was fined $1,000. Bulldogs forward Viliame Kikau was fined $3,000 for Dangerous Contact regarding his tackle on Cowboys halfback Jake Clifford in the 13th minute of their game at Accor Stadium; if he 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 offences during the loss to the Panthers, both of which come with a $750 fine if he pleads guilty early.
Additionally, Canberra’s Hudson Young (Careless High Tackle) and Dragon Jack de Belin (Dangerous Contact) both received fines of $1,800 after opting for early guilty pleas. Roosters players Angus Crichton (Dangerous Contact) and Siua Wong (Careless High Tackle) also accepted fines after their early guilty pleas.
Meanwhile, Melbourne forward Eliesa Katoa has escaped suspension for a tackle on Tristan Sailor that resulted in him being sent to the sin bin during Thursday’s victory over the Broncos.