‘Unfair’ ban prompts call for NRL charge system review
Jasper Bruce |
Cameron Ciraldo wants the NRL to rethink its match review system, saying it is “unfair” for Jacob Preston to miss four games for a crusher tackle because of prior, though admittedly different, offences.
Preston would have been able to accept a $1500 fine for his grade-one crusher tackle on Gold Coast’s Tino Fa’asuamaleaui had he not been charged with two grade-one offences already this season.
But the second-rower’s rap sheet meant he could only accept a three-match ban with an early plea, with that suspension increased to four games when he lost his fight at the judiciary on Tuesday.
A four-game ban puts the grade-one crusher tackle on a par with Fetalaiga Pauga and Justin Olam’s ugly high shots from the 2024 season that resulted in on-field send-offs.
Preston’s seemingly more minor hit has left the Bulldogs without their 2023 player of the year for the next month, and a disappointed Ciraldo scratching his head.
“Obviously I don’t think Jacob deserved four weeks. We went and fought that and got a fair hearing,” the coach said.
“It is what it is but if you look at the things that have got four weeks in the past, I think it’s a bit unfair for Jacob to get four weeks.”
It’s left Ciraldo to suggest the NRL considers tweaking its match review system.
Preston’s two previous offences this season were not for crusher tackles. The first time the 23-year-old was charged for the offence in his career, he has been handed a four-game ban.
That has left Ciraldo frustrated, with the coach intimating the Bulldogs had been punished for taking early guilty pleas rather than fighting Preston’s two previous charges this season.
“I definitely think there could be a review into the system … especially when it’s not a repeat offence,” he said.
“The first couple (of charges this season) as well, he only took the early guilty plea just to pay the cash and avoid missing a week (under) suspension.
“You end up agreeing to a $1500 fine and try and move on from it, and then a couple of weeks later you’re getting a four-week suspension. I don’t think it’s ideal.”
Preston has turned his attention to preparing the ladder-leading Bulldogs for a top-of-the-table away clash against Canberra this Saturday.
The Raiders will be without in-form forward and Queensland hopeful Corey Horsburgh.
Horsburgh has exhibited concussion symptoms in the days after copping a head knock in the golden-point win over Melbourne, thwarting his bid to receive clearance from the NRL in time to play.
He is set to return in round 11 to make one last push for a State of Origin recall, but the Bulldogs will lose Preston for upcoming games against the Sydney Roosters, the Dolphins and Parramatta.
Drop any of those and the Bulldogs risk giving up top spot in a tightly-run season.
“(Preston) is pretty shattered, you look at some of the games that are coming up in that period and they’re big games, they’re really important for us as a football club,” Ciraldo said.
The NRL’s best attacking side through nine rounds, the Raiders have already declared a sold-out crowd for Saturday’s game.
AAP
