Tigers incensed over James charge

Wests Tigers are incensed over the punishment dished out to Ryan James after the Gold Coast forward broke James Tedesco’s jaw.

James is facing a one-match suspension on a grade two careless high tackle charge after hitting a falling Tedesco with a swinging arm during the Titans’ 19-18 win at Campbelltown Stadium on Saturday.

The Tigers confirmed on Monday their star fullback suffered a broken jaw and is expected to miss the rest of the NRL season.

“You touch a ref you get one week, I will let you fill in the blanks,” said Tigers forward Joel Edwards when asked about the James’ penalty.

“Some of the rulings are pretty funny at the moment,” Tigers prop Ava Seumanufagai added.

The loss of Tedesco has hit the Tigers’ slim finals prospects hard.

They need to win all three of their remaining games against Penrith (away), the Warriors (away) and Canberra (at Leichhardt Oval) without their most influential player if they are to qualify for the playoffs.

Brisbane captain Corey Parker also questioned the sanction from the match review committee, recalling his punishment for a tackle on Tedesco in State of Origin game three.

“You just want to see consistency,” Parker told Sky Sports Radio’s Big Sports Breakfast.

“I got Tedesco myself in the Origin match. I hadn’t been charged in 15 years and got one week.

“Decisions are made, based on what I was led to believe, the severity of the tackle.

“And he (James) has broken his jaw, regardless of how it has happened.

“He’s hit him with a closed fist, swinging arm that has since broken his jaw and he (James) got one week.”

South Sydney captain Greg Inglis copped a three-week ban for a shoulder charge that broke NSW and Dragons utility Josh Dugan’s jaw in State of Origin III.

James will miss Gold Coast’s round 24 clash against Newcastle at Hunter Stadium on Saturday afternoon if he accepts the one-match ban.

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