Updated ,first published
Leichhardt Oval: Wests Tigers will be sweating on Api Koroisau being cleared of a hip-drop tackle and a dangerous throw that could also threaten NSW Origin’s preparations.
Koroisau was sin-binned approaching the half-hour mark on Thursday night when he came down on the back of Canberra back-rower Noah Martin’s leg.
Martin yelled out in pain, stayed on the field, but spent most of the second half watching from the bench.
The Raiders raced in two tries while Koroisau was on the sidelines.
Should the match review committee charge Koroisau on Friday morning, he will be hoping for nothing more than a grade-one dangerous contact charge, which carries a $3000 fine. A grade-two dangerous contact charge, however, will mean a three-match ban.
Koroisau has already been charged three times with dangerous contact.
Then in the 53rd minute, Koroisau was placed on report a second time for a lifting tackle on Morgan Smithies. If charged with a grade-one dangerous throw, Koroisau will face a two-match ban.
Any time out of the game would be a huge blow for the Tigers who meet Cronulla, Melbourne, then Manly at Magic Round.
A minimum three-match ban also means Koroisau would not play again before Origin I. Koroisau is in contention for a NSW recall after Penrith hooker Mitch Kenny was ruled out for up to three months with a broken leg.
Tigers coach Benji Marshall was at a loss to explain why Koroisau had been sanctioned for either tackle, especially the alleged hip-drop.
“It’s probably not a good time, but who cares – the inconsistency with the refereeing is annoying me at the moment,” Marshall said.
“I know we won, but some of the calls … it’s hard to understand. Even Api’s case with the sin-bin, I don’t know what he’s supposed to do in that situation. He’s making a cover tackle from behind, where he has to tackle his legs, and that’s where he’s going to end up.
“I don’t think it was intentional. He did his ten minutes, surely that’s enough.“
“I think the fans deserve some consistency around interpretations of the rules. We’re not getting it.”
As for the lifting tackle, Marshall said: “If it was up to me, I probably would have challenged it [the penalty]. I didn’t think it was that bad.”
Koroisau was excellent for most of the night and was unlucky not to receive a penalty of his own when he appeared to be kicked in the face by Ethan Sanders midway through the second half.
The Tigers raced to a 10-0 lead at a packed Leichhardt Oval – the official count was 17,153 – with tries to Luke Laulilii and Adam Doueihi. Laulilii pounced on a wobbly Koroisau kick in the left corner.
The Raiders, already missing Simi Sasagi and Josh Papalii to injury, as well as the suspended Hudson Young, looked in serious trouble when Ethan Strange hobbled from the field in the opening 10 minutes. He received a painkilling injection into his ankle, and was able to return before the break.
The best moment of the night took place in the 46th minute when Jarome Luai put Samuela Fainu into a hole, then the giant back-rower hit and spun out of a tackle before squeezing a pass for Doueihi to score his second try.
The second-best moment was when Doueihi looked ready to collect a hat-trick of tries, only for Kaeo Weekes to produce a belter of a tackle as the last line of defence.
The third-best moment was the sight of big Royce Hunt showing serious speed to score the final try. Who knew the big fella could move so quickly.
As for Doueihi, fans should make a point of re-reading Andrew Johns’ Thursday column in the Herald about why the Tigers’ fan favourite would be an ideal No. 14 for the Blues. The Tigers’ Mr Fix-It gets better each week.
Form back-rower Kai Pearce-Paul failed a head injury assessment, which means he is now unavailable next week, while Jahream Bula came from the field in the final 10 minutes with a shoulder injury. He received a rock-star reception as he walked back to the bench in front of the main grandstand.
The Tigers head to Cronulla next Sunday while Canberra take on the Gold Coast.
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