NRL review committee charges Vagana - Sports News - Fanatics - the world's biggest events

NRL review committee charges Vagana

By Philip Henderson 01/05/2006 07:04:36 PM Comments (0)

Three Anzac Test combatants breathed a collected sigh of relief after being spared a trip to the NRL judiciary before Friday's match.

New Zealand star Nigel Vagana was the only player from the Kangaroos and Kiwis squads charged by the NRL match review committee with teammate Louis Anderson and Australia's Danny Buderus both escaping censure from weekend incidents.

Vagana will avoid a one-week suspension with an early plea after being cited for a grade one careless high tackle on Penrith replacement Bryan Norrie during Cronulla's win last Friday.

Lock Anderson wasn't charged after being put on report for a high tackle on Bulldog Tony Grimaldi in the Warriors' loss on Sunday.

Newcastle hooker Buderus had come under scrutiny for a lifting tackle on South Sydney winger Luke MacDougall during the Knight's win over the Rabbitohs.

New Zealand coach Brian McClennan admitted the news was a massive relief.

"I was really concerned for Nigel and Louis, and concerned for our Kiwi team, because they make us strong," he said.

"So the fact that they have come through this unscathed and they can play a Test match is just fantastic."

Buderus did not think he had too much to worry about, but praised the decision.

"I wasn't too nervous because it wasn't put on report but actually people mentioned it after the game," he said.

"To have nothing said by the NRL is good and I didn't think there was anything in it. It was just a good tackle. It was a good decision."

Three other players were cited by the match review committee.

St George Illawarra prop Luke Bailey, who was ruled unfit for Australian selection on Sunday because of knee and rib injuries, was facing two separate charges - a grade one careless high tackle on Melbourne fullback Greg Inglis and grade three striking charge on Cooper Cronk.

An early plea for both would see him miss two weeks, while he could face up to four weeks on the sidelines if he contests both charges and loses.

Bulldogs centre Willie Tonga was charged with a grade two dangerous throw. He will miss two weeks with an early plea and three if found guilty.

Parramatta's Adam Peek was charged with a grade one dangerous throw carrying a one-week ban.

Brought to you by AAP AAP © 2024 AAP

0 Comments about this article

Post a comment about this article

Please sign in to leave a comment.
Becoming a member is free and easy, sign up here.

« All sports news