Napa faces big ban over tackle on McCullough

THE NRL has finally cracked down on Roosters enforcer Dylan Napa’s dangerous tackling technique after whacking the Queensland Origin star with a suspension which could end his season.

Napa is facing three to four games on the sidelines for the sickening tackle which left Broncos hooker Andrew McCullough concussed and with lacerations in his mouth.

McCullough was knocked senseless in the 24th minute of Brisbane’s gritty 22-8 win against the Roosters at Allianz Stadium on Saturday night after clashing heads with Napa.

The tackle was a carbon copy of the hit which left Broncos prop Korbin Sims with a shattered jaw when the teams met at Suncorp Stadium in Round 11.

Napa escaped suspension for the Sims tackle, but the NRL’s match review committee yesterday hit the Maroons prop with a grade three dangerous contact charge.

Napa will miss three games with an early guilty plea or faces a four-match ban if he fights the charge and loses at the judiciary.

A three-game ban would see Napa return in either the preliminary finals or grand final if the Roosters finish in the top four and progress that far.

McCullough will undergo concussion testing in the leadup to Brisbane’s final-round clash against Manly at Suncorp Stadium on Sunday.

Broncos coach Wayne Bennett said McCullough had been cleared of a broken jaw and was showing positive signs in his recovery.

Bennett declined to comment on the Napa charge, however, the Roosters hit-man found an unlikely ally in Maroons teammate McCullough.

McCullough took to social media to reveal Napa had apologised for the incident which saw him sin-binned.

“Dylan has apologised numerous amount of times,” McCullough wrote.

“He’s a quality guy and I will be alright.

“Have a fantastic Sunday! Exciting times ahead.”

McCullough’s fitness is critical to Brisbane’s premiership tilt given the Broncos’ lack of depth in the hooker ranks.