Manly’s Lussick hit with two-match NRL ban

Manly prop Darcy Lussick has been suspended for two NRL matches after pleading guilty to striking North Queensland forward Ashton Sims on Saturday night.

Lussick on Tuesday opted not to challenge the grade-two striking charge at the judiciary and will now miss Friday night’s blockbuster against South Sydney in Gosford and the following round against Newcastle at Brookvale.

The Parramatta-bound enforcer’s 44th minute hit on Sims in Townsville means he’ll miss an enticing battle with another of the NRL’s biggest hitmen, Rabbitohs forward Sam Burgess.

Burgess on Monday was cleared to line up against the Sea Eagles after entering an early guilty plea for a careless high tackle charge.

Burgess was charged with a grade-two offence for catching Gold Coast fullback William Zillman high in Sunday’s 22-18 win over the Titans, but an early guilty plea meant no suspension was enforced.

Cronulla centre Colin Best took an early guilty plea on Tuesday for a grade-one tripping charge from Sunday’s huge win over the Warriors.

The incident won’t cost him any time on the sidelines and he’s free to tackle Newcastle on Monday.

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