Brisbane star Patrick Carrigan is facing an extended stint on the sidelines for his ugly hip drop tackle on Wests Tigers utility Jackson Hastings.
The tackle caused Hastings to limp from the field in the 73rd minute, with the Tiger suffering a broken fibula after his leg was caught underneath Carrigan in a twisting motion.
Tigers coach Brett Kimmorley described the act as “horrendous” post the 32-18 upset win, and The Daily Telegraph’s David Riccio expects Carrigan to face a similar fate to St George forward Tyrell Fuimaono who received a five-week ban for his tackle which ended Haze Dunster’s season.
“With this Patrick Carrigan situation, using Tyrell Fuimaono as a benchmark is probably fair enough,” Riccio said on SEN 1170 Breakfast.
“Fuimaono snapped Haze Dunster’s ACL in that hip drop tackle, and that tackle was graded, it was a grade three dangerous contact charge.
“The difference here with Carrigan is that he’s been referred straight to the judiciary.
“Fuimaono was given five matches, but if the judiciary is serious and given that it couldn’t be graded and was greater than a grade three contact charge, I suspect Carrigan is facing six to seven weeks out.
“I think that’s justifiable.”
Rugby league great Greg Alexander added that he would support any judiciary decision that comes down hard on Carrigan, even if the suspension was up to eight weeks.
“No argument here,” Alexander said.
“I wouldn’t have an argument if he got six weeks or seven weeks.
“In fact, if he got eight weeks it wouldn’t bother me.”
In defeat, Brisbane missed out on a great chance to enter the top four and now they could be without their star forward for at least the rest of the regular season.
The Broncos face the Roosters at the SCG on Friday while the Tigers host the Knights at Campbelltown on Sunday.