NRL round 16 judiciary: David Fifita set to miss Origin III while Valentine Holmes escapes suspension

Sporting News

NRL round 16 judiciary: David Fifita set to miss Origin III while Valentine Holmes escapes suspension image

Round 16 is officially underway, with the Melbourne Storm thrashing the Sydney Roosters on Thursday night.

Two players were charged from the clash, with Roosters rookie Daniel Suluka-Fifita facing a suspension for a late hit on Cameron Munster.

The Maroons were forced to sweat after two stars were under judiciary clouds from Saturday's fixtures. 

And the Bulldogs prospect just keep getting worse...

Here's all the judiciary charges from round 16. 

DAVID FIFITA RULED OUT OF ORIGIN III AFTER HIT ON SAM WILLIAMS

Queensland enforcer David Fifita will not play for the Maroons in Origin III after he was found guilty of grade one dangerous contact at the NRL judiciary on Tuesday night.

The 21-year-old was one of the Gold Coast Titans' best in their dominant win over the Raiders on Saturday night. 

However, he was charged for a late hit on Sam Williams in the first half of the match. 

Fifita was slapped with a grade one dangerous contact charge which usually wouldn't warrant a suspension. 

But due to loading for prior non-simlar offences, Fifita would have faced a one-match ban with an early guilty plea and had to try his luck at the judiciary.

The three-man panel ruled against the Titans star, finding him guilty to deny Fifita a sixth Origin appearance for the Maroons.

 
   
 

VALENTINE HOLMES ESCAPES BAN FOR HIT ON KALYN PONGA

Incumbent Maroons fullback Valentine Holmes will be free to play in Origin III after escaping a ban for his late hit on Kalyn Ponga. 

Holmes was placed on report for a tackle on Ponga in the 76th minute of the Knights' dominant win over the Cowboys on Saturday night. 

Ponga had been instrumental in Newcastle's win but there was concern that Holmes' hit may impact the Maroons side going into Game III. 

However, Holmes has been hit with a grade one dangerous contact (head/neck) charge and can accept a $1,350 sanction with an early guilty plea. 

BULLDOGS SET TO BE FORCED INTO MORE CHANGES AFTER SATURDAY FROM HELL

Just when you thought things couldn't get worse for the Bulldogs, Trent Barrett will be left scratching his head again on Sunday morning. 

The Bulldogs were absolutely embarrassed by the Manly Sea Eagles on Saturday who ran away with a 66-0 win at Bankwest Stadium. 

Canterbury's side was forced into mass changes for the weekend through a mix of injury and a number of players ruled out due to a COVID breach. 

But it appears Barrett will now have to make two more changes for his next fixture. 

Jeremy Marshall-King has been charged with a crusher tackle on Manly's Morgan Harper in the fifth minute of the match. 

Marshall-King will miss two matches with an early guilty plea but could be on the sidelines for three weeks if he fights the charge and loses. 

Prop Ava Seumanufagai has been hit with a dangerous contact charge after an incident involving Martin Taupau in the final minute of the match against Manly. 

Due to two prior incidents, Seumanufagai will accrue 150 points with an early guilty plea and is set to miss at least one week. 

DANIEL SULUKA-FIFITA FACING BAN; JWH ESCAPES WITH FINE OVER MELEE

Sydney Roosters rookie Daniel Suluka-Fifita is facing a week on the sidelines, after he was cited for a high and late shot on Storm playmaker Cameron Munster.

The incident came during the second half of the Storm's 46-0 victory, with the forward rushing out of the line and collecting Munster in the jaw with his shoulder.

Suluka-Fifita was sin-binned and charged with a grade one dangerous contact for the tackle, and it's the second time this season he has had a brain snap that cost his side.

Earlier in the year, the 21-year-old punched Jai Arrow in the back of the head while he was on the ground, leading to 10 minutes in the bin.

Elsewhere in the Roosters-Storm clash, Jared Waerea-Hargraeves was involved in a melee and has since been cited for his involvement.

JWH ran in late and pulled Felise Kaufusi out of the way, following an ugly tackle from Christian Welch on Sam Walker. 

The front-rower will be fined $1,900 with an early guilty plea. 

WILLIAMS HANDED FINE FOR CONTRARY CONDUCT

Shark Jack Williams can accept an $1350 if he takes the early guilty plea for contrary conduct on Payne Haas.

If he fights the charge and loses the sanction carries an $1800 fine.

Sporting News

Sporting News Photo

The sports world explained. The Sporting News goes beyond the score to deliver the news, data, insights and entertainment that sports fans around the globe need to know.