Eight charged after NRL video review
Monday, June 5, 2006 - 4:26 PM
Parramatta halfback Jeremy Smith faces a minimum four-week suspension for allegedly shoving referee Sean Hampstead while Sydney Roosters forward Lopini Paea is looking at a 10-week ban for his part in a spear tackle.
Eight players have been charged by the NRL's match review committee, with Melbourne's Billy Slater, who returned from a seven-match ban on the weekend, likely to miss two weeks for a dangerous throw and New Zealand Warriors prop Ruben Wiki facing a six-week ban for kneeing.
St George Illawarra's Matt Cooper is another star set to be outed after being charged for a dangerous throw that will sideline him for two weeks with an early guilty plea.
The Roosters also had winger Amos Roberts and lock Ashley Harrison charged with grade one dangerous throws, Harrison for his part in the tackle on Melbourne prop Ben Cross which saw Paea charged with a grade five dangerous throw.
Smith was charged with grade five contrary conduct for his handling of Hampstead late in the Eels' loss to St George Illawarra and could miss six weeks if he unsuccessfully challenges the ban at the judiciary.
South Sydney's Shannon McPherson will not miss any matches with an early plea after also copping a grade one dangerous throw charge.