Cronulla’s Addin Fonua-Blake and Ronaldo Mulitalo have been cleared to play in next weekend’s elimination final against North Queensland, but Sharks centre Michael Gabrael is facing a two-to-three-match suspension after a tackle that left Melbourne winger Siulagi Tuimalatu-Brown in hospital.
Gabrael was charged with a grade-two careless high tackle following Cronulla’s 24-20 defeat by the Storm on Saturday night. The incident occurred in the opening minutes and resulted in Tuimalatu-Brown being taken from the field on a stretcher.
Melbourne said the young winger had not suffered a severe spinal injury during his initial assessment, although further scans were planned because of continuing numbness in his arm.
Fonua-Blake, who was cited for dangerous contact and an alleged hip-drop on Cooper Clarke, can avoid suspension by accepting an A$1,800 fine. Mulitalo was charged with grade-one contrary conduct after lashing out at Storm captain Harry Grant during a first-half melee and faces an A$1,000 penalty.
Strike centre KL Iro is expected to return for Cronulla’s finals match, while Gabrael’s absence will leave the Sharks needing to reshape their backline.
Reuben Cotter faces Cowboys finals blow
North Queensland forward Reuben Cotter is also at risk of missing the opening week of the finals after being charged with grade-two careless high contact for a tackle on retiring Canberra great Josh Papalii.
The incident came from the opening kick-off in Townsville on Saturday. Cotter and Cowboys coach Todd Payten described the collision as head-on-head contact, but the match review committee imposed a charge carrying a one-to-two-game suspension.
North Queensland have until midday on Monday to decide whether to accept the sanction or contest it at the judiciary, where a failed challenge could result in an additional match being added to the ban.
Cronulla secured fifth place despite losing four of their last five matches and will host the eighth-placed Cowboys in an elimination final next weekend. The venue and kick-off time are not expected to be confirmed until Sunday evening.
The NRL is understood to be considering Allianz Stadium as the venue rather than the Sharks’ Ocean Protect Stadium, which has a capacity of about 15,000.
The disciplinary decisions followed a fractious match in Sydney, where 24 penalties were awarded, alongside 26 errors. Grant criticised the current interpretation of the ruck and the expanded use of six-again calls, arguing that players were struggling to understand what constituted a quick or slow play-the-ball.
