The NRL judiciary could force Cronulla coach Shane Flanagan’s hand to find a new five-eighth with under-fire Ben Barba facing a two to three-week ban.
After being panned for his opening three performances, Barba’s disappointing season could be about to get worse after he was hit with two charges by the NRL match review committee following the side’s loss to Melbourne on Saturday night.
Barba was charged with a lifting tackle on Kurt Mann in the 27th minute and hit with a dangerous contact charge for leading with the knees as Marika Koroibete scored early in the second half.
Both charges attract a one-game ban with an early guilty plea.
However he would be rubbed out for three weeks if he fought both charges at the NRL judiciary and was found guilty.
Some have called for Barba to be shifted back to fullback however Flanagan is short on options following a season-ending knee injury to back-up half Fa’amanu Brown.
Should Barba be suspended, it would open the door for highly-rated youngster Jack Bird to make his NRL debut despite the club previously expressing a desire to bring him along slowly.
Barba was one of seven players charged by the match review committee over the weekend.
Newcastle’s Korbin Sims has also been charged twice, for two dangerous throws, and is looking at two to three weeks’ suspension.
Wests Tigers winger Pat Richards said he was hoping his cleanskin reputation would work in his favour after being charged for a lifting tackle on Greg Inglis.
“I’ve got a clean record in the game so hopefully that will come into my favour,” Richards said.
“… There was no intent in it.”
Richards is facing one to two weeks out after being hit with a dangerous contact charge.
Canberra lock Shaun Fensom can accept a one-week ban for a crusher tackle on St George Illawarra debutant Euan Aitken.
St George Illawarra’s Joel Thompson (dangerous contact), South Sydney’s Glenn Stewart (dangerous throw) and Gold Coast’s Eddy Pettybourne (careless high tackle) will all be free to play this weekend with early guilty pleas.
