Storm interchange forward Trent Loiero was the first player punished by the NRL match review committee – with the 23-year-old facing a two week ban for a crusher tackle on Herbie Farnworth.
It is Loiero’s second offence this season – as a $3000 early plea looms over his record.
Pauga gets sent off. (Photo by Scott Gardiner/Getty Images)
Meanwhile, Tevita Pangai jnr was put on report for a late tackle on Storm prop Christian Welch on Friday night in his NRL comeback with the Dolphins but has only received a grade-one dangerous contact charge from the match review committee.
Pangai will pay $1000 and move on to next week, where the Dolphins face St. George Illawarra.
Roosters centre Fetalaiga Pauga was sent off after a nasty stiff-arm on Bulldogs fullback Connor Tracey. Pauga rushed in off his edge and caught the chin of Tracey, who was visibly rocked after the illegal contact.
“(Tracey’s) not well,” Cameron Ciraldo said post game.
“It’s not great to see a player like that go off like that… so that was tough. We don’t want that on either side in our game, so it’s disappointing. He’s suffering a bit (in the dressing room), Junior.”
“It’s not for me to decide (what the outcome is). I’m disappointed we’re probably going to lose him for next week… it is what it is,” Roosters coach Trent Robinson said.
Sam Walker was also sent to the sin-bin in the dying stages of the game – dragging the foot of Viliame Kikau while the second-rower was preparing to play the ball.
Roger Tuivasa-Sheck was sent to the bin for an above-horizontal lift on Jayden Campbell – but the tackle was a borderline penalty offence.