South Sydney they were told they were only a “50/50 chance” of success if they sought a downgrade for Tom Burgess’ grade-two careless high tackle that left James Tedesco concussed.
Burgess will miss the next two matches after entering an early plea, even though the big Englishman was never a chance to play against Cronulla this weekend because of concussion.
He will now have to hope Souths can defeat the Sharks at Allianz Stadium, then Penrith in the preliminary final, so he can return for a second successive grand final.
Rabbitohs superstar Latrell Mitchell took to social media to cheekily ask where the consistency was with match bans, especially when Panthers winger Taylan May was allowed to delay his off-field penalty until the start of the new year.
Burgess would have loved to take on Cronulla given he lives in the Shire and is good friends with former Rabbitoh Toby Rudolf. Advice from high-flying lawyer Nick Ghabar convinced Souths officials to not take any risks at the judiciary with their front-rower.
Souths teammates made sure he joined them in linking arms and walking the length of the field in a wall formation like they do every session.
Tom Burgess will miss the next two matches.Credit:Getty Images
Tedesco never returned following the Burgess hit on Sunday, and still feeling the effects on Monday night.
“He got me pretty good,” Tedesco said. “I was out for a bit, I don’t know if it looked as bad as it felt, but it was pretty solid.
Former Tiger and backrower Michael Chee Kam was named on the Souths bench for Burgess, which indicated Jai Arrow will spend some time in the middle at Allianz Stadium.
As Burgess spends a short stint on the sideline, winger Taane Milne, who was sin-binned twice against the Roosters for high shots on Joseph Suaalii and Connor Watson, said he was convinced he was looking at his own suspension.
Not again … Taane Milne is given ten minutes in the sin-bin on SundayCredit:Getty Images
Milne was only fined $1800 for his tackle on Suaalii, but was prepared to empty his bank account to pay whatever it took if it meant he could take part on Saturday evening.
“I was a bit nervous straight after the game, then woke up early Monday when our football manager Mark Ellison phoned and said, ‘Do you want the good news or the bad news first?’” Milne said. “He said, ‘The bad news is you got a fine, but the good news is you’re good to go this weekend’.
“I got suspended earlier in the year for a high shot against the Tigers, I thought nothing of it but was suspended for a game. That made me think I was definitely gone this time.”
Milne was involved in one of the first melees with Victor Radley, and said he never felt a punch that forced the Roosters’ enforcer off the field the first time.
“I honestly didn’t think he tried to punch me, it was in the heat of the battle and two blokes having a go; there was nothing in it,” Milne said.
