NRL Judiciary Round 16: Eels duo set for bans, Sorensen whacked, Smithies escapes with fine

Joshua Mayne

Jed Wells

NRL Judiciary Round 16: Eels duo set for bans, Sorensen whacked, Smithies escapes with fine image

Round 16 of the NRL has concluded, with a number of teams shorthanded following State of Origin Game 2. 

Catch up on all the Judiciary charges below:

MORE: The latest NRL injury news

Eels duo facing sideline stints

Both Will Pensini and Ryley Smith have been charged with Grade 2 dangerous throws after their win over the Titans.

After scoring a second-half double, Penisini was sin-binned for an ugly lifting tackle on Beau Fermor.

As it's the second offence on the centre's record, he will miss three weeks with an early guilty plea, or face four weeks on the sideline if he challenges unsuccessfully.

Smith's cleaner record means he is set for a two-week ban, assuming he enters an early guilty plea.

Karl Lawton to miss time

Karl Lawton's late tackle on Siua Wong has seen him cop a Grade 3 dangerous contact charge from the Match Review Committee.

In an incident that was not penalised at the time, Lawton tackled Wong around the knees while he was being held by two other Cowboys players.

He will miss two matches with an early guilty plea, or cop a three-game ban if he challenges unsuccessfully.

Scott Sorensen set for ban

Scott Sorensen is set for a stint on the sideline after copping a charge for an alleged hip drop.

The tackle – which saw Dallin Watene-Zelezniak exit the field with an ankle injury – could see the Panthers veteran miss two matches with an early guilty plea.

He could receive a three-week ban if he challenges unsuccessfully.

Sorensen was also charged with a high tackle on Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad and faces a $1,800 fine.

Morgan Smithies escapes with fine after headbutt

Canberra Raiders player Morgan Smithies has escaped with a fine in his side's win over the West Tigers, after he appeared to headbutt Fonua Pole. 

Smithies was hit with a Grade 1 Striking charge, and will pay $1,500 with an early plea. 

His teammate Hudson young is also facing a fine for dangerous contact on Alex Seyfarth, while opponent Jeral Skelton received a charge of his own for a hair pull against Xavier Savage. 

Full Round 16 NRL Judiciary charge list, results

PlayerTeamChargeOpponentEarly pleaGuilty at panel
Ronaldo MulitaloSharksDangerous Contact (Grade 1)Reece Walsh$1,800$2,500
Karl LawtonCowboysDangerous Contact (Grade 3)Siua Wong2 matches3 matches
Angus CrichtonRoostersDangerous Contact (Grade 1)John Bateman$1,800$2,500
Ryley SmithEelsDangerous Throw (Grade 2)Phillip Sami2 matches3 matches
Will PenisiniEelsDangerous Throw (Grade 2)Beau Fermor3 matches4 matches
Scott SorensenPanthersDangerous Contact (Grade 2)Dallin Watene-Zelezniak2 matches3 matches
Charnze Nicoll-KlokstadWarriorsHigh Tackle - Careless (Grade 1)Thomas Jenkins$1,000$1,500
Scott SorensenPanthersHigh Tackle - Careless (Grade 1)Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad$1,800$2,500
James SchillerKnightsHigh Tackle - Careless (Grade 1)Oryn Keeley$3,0002 matches
Lachlan HubnerRabbitohsContrary Conduct (Grade 1)Trent Loiero$1,800$2,500
Hudson YoungRaidersDangerous Contact (Grade 1)Alex Seyfarth$1,800$2,500
Morgan SmithiesRaidersStriking (Grade 1)Fonua Pole$1,500$2,000
Jeral SkeltonTigersContrary Conduct (Grade 1)Xavier Savage$1,000$1,500

Joshua Mayne

Joshua Mayne is a content producer for The Sporting News currently based in Sydney, Australia. He has previously worked as a newsreader at 2SER and a journalist at Ministry of Sport. Joshua specialises in rugby league, motorsport and tennis. He is still waiting for Arsenal to win the Premier League again. 

 

Jed Wells

Jed is a writer and social media producer, who has a keen interest in the intersection of sports and popular culture, especially basketball.