Shillington escapes ban for ‘headbutt’

Prop David Shillington is free to play in Canberra’s round 23 NRL match with Manly after taking the early guilty plea on a contrary conduct charge regarding an alleged headbutt.

Shillington became the first NRL player to be sent off since Newcastle’s Kade Snowden was given his marching orders in round 14, 2013, in Monday’s night’s loss to the Tigers.

Late in the game Shillington appeared to attempt to headbutt his Tigers opposite Aaron Woods and was dismissed by referee Jared Maxwell.

The former Kangaroos front-rower was hit with a grade one contrary conduct charge by the match review committee on Tuesday morning, which he accepted soon after.

Shillington’s Canberra teammate Joseph Leilua became the latest player targeted in the NRL’s crackdown on the shoulder charge. He took the early guilty plea on a grade one shoulder charge on Tigers forward Kyle Lovett in the second half and will miss Sunday’s match in the nation’s capital against the Sea Eagles.

Glenn Stewart will miss South Sydney’s big NRL clash with North Queensland on Thursday after accepting a one-match ban for a high tackle.

Stewart was charged with a grade two careless high tackle for a hit on Steve Matai in the Rabbitohs’ heavy loss to Manly last Friday.

He will sit out Souths’ match against fellow top-four side North Queensland in Townsville and is free to play against Canterbury next week, after submitting an early guilty plea to the charge on Tuesday morning.

Stay up to date with the latest sports news
Follow our social accounts to get exclusive content and all the latest sporting news!