Tom Burgess is in danger of missing the Rabbitohs’ sudden-death final against the Sharks and Jared Waerea-Hargreaves faces a lengthy ban for what South Sydney coach Jason Demetriou described as “an ordinary act” as the fallout from a bitter finals match continues.
Burgess will need the Rabbitohs to make the grand final to play again this season as he faces a two-match suspension for a high shot which forced a concussed James Tedesco out of the Rabbitohs’ win over the Roosters at Allianz Stadium on Sunday.
The England international will be suspended for three games if he unsuccessfully fights the grade-two careless high tackle charge for the Tedesco contact at the judiciary.
He will also pay an $1800 fine for his high contact on Matt Lodge less than a minute later, saying after full-time, “I didn’t think there was too much in them”.
“They are trying to get the head knocks out of the game but we are running at full speed, so head knocks are going to happen,” Burgess said.
“It is a contact sport and I always say that there is going to be contact to the head at some point. If your arm isn’t above your shoulder, then I honestly don’t think it should be a penalty.”
Matt Lodge is tackled high by Tom Burgess.Credit:Getty
Waerea-Hargreaves was hit with a grade-two dangerous contact for a head slam on Burgess, who was subsequently ruled out of the match due to concussion, and will spend three weeks on the sideline with an early guilty plea.
He will miss four matches if he is unable to beat the charge or have it downgraded at the judiciary.
The prospective ban has World Cup implications for the 33-year-old enforcer, who has been at the forefront of New Zealand coach Michael Maguire’s selection plans.
A three-week ban would rule Waerea-Hargreaves out of the Kiwis’ three pool games, and have him available for quarter-final selection at the start of November, seven weeks after last playing.
Jared Waerea-Hargreaves is facing a three-game ban for a head slam on Tom Burgess.Credit:Getty
If the Kiwis opt not to take Waerea-Hargreaves on tour, any suspension would be served at the start of the Roosters’ 2023 season.
Pressed on the head slam, Burgess said: “I will have to look back at it but I know my head hit the ground pretty hard and I think his elbow was in there as well. I don’t want to get too interested in it really, it is for the judiciary to have a look at.
“He plays the game with aggression and intent, so he is trying to be an enforcer for his team. We play a contact game, so I will take the contact.”
South Sydney winger Taane Milne will be free to play against the Sharks after copping a grade-one careless high tackle charge from the match review committee for a hit on Joseph Suaalii, which carries an $1800 fine. It was one of two high tackles which prompted referee Ashley Klein to send Milne to the sin bin.
Suaalii is also facing an $1800 fine after being booked for his running style. He raised his knee before clattering into veteran South Sydney prop Mark Nicholls. The teenage whizkid received a concerning act notice for his running technique a fortnight earlier.
Roosters hardman Victor Radley was not charged by the match review committee despite being sent to the sin bin twice.
