Shark Wright cops three-week NRL ban

Cronulla three-quarter Johnathan Wright is the latest Shark to be sidelined for the rest of the NRL season, after accepting a three-week ban for a dangerous throw.

Wright on Tuesday took the early guilty plea on a grade three dangerous throw emanating from a 62nd minute tackle on his Canberra opposite in Sunday’s ‘Spoonbowl’ clash, won by the Raiders.

The former Bulldog joins a long list of Sharks who will miss Monday’s round 25 clash with North Queensland in Townsville through injury, suspension and doping bans.

Captain Paul Gallen and fellow back-rower Anthony Tupou accepted back-dated 12 month doping bans that have ruled them out for the rest of the season, alongside Nathan Gardner and Wade Graham, who was out with a foot injury.

Tinirau Arona (back/hamstring), Bryce Gibbs (foot), Mark Mexico (suspension), Sam Tagataese (suspension), Andrew Fifita (arm), Luke Lewis (knee/hamstring), Siosaia Vave (pec), David Fifita (foot), Eric Groethe Jnr (back), Jacob Gagan (hamstring) John Morris (neck – retired), Beau Ryan (neck – retired) are all out for the rest of the season for the last-placed Sharks.

The extensive injury list will again force interim coach James Shepherd to field a raft of unknowns against the in-form Cowboys.

In other judiciary news Manly prop Jason King has taken the early plea on a grade two careless high tackle on Parramatta’s Tepai Moeroa, but will dispute the grading before the NRL judiciary on Wednesday night, in a bid to play in Sunday’s match with Penrith at Brookvale Oval.

Panthers’ interchange forward Jeremy Latimore has until midday on Wednesday to enter his plea on a crusher tackle tackle reported in Monday’s loss to Melbourne.

Latimore faces a week-ban if he takes the early guilty plea from a 54th minute tackle on the Storm’s Bryan Norrie.

Latimore’s teammate Adam Docker will escape suspension if he takes the early plea on a grade one high tackle on Tim Glasby.

Docker has until midday Wednesday to enter his plea.

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