NRL: API KOROISAU
DEFENDS TACKLE, LEILUA FACES BAN
Sydney: Wests Tigers centre Joey Leilua has been charged with grade three dangerous contact (head/ neck) over his high shot on Panthers fullback Dylan Edwards at Bankwest Stadium on Saturday.
The charge translates into a ban of four weeks for an early guilty plea and six weeks if he is found guilty. Panthers players have come to the defence of Leilua after the
Wests Tigers centre lost his head in Saturday night’s emotion-charged clash following a high tackle on his brother Luciano.
Leilua conceded consecutive penalties late in the match and was sent to the sin bin for an off-the-ball high shot on Edwards.
“I got a little cheapie there but it didn’t hurt me too much,” Edwards said. “He was a bit cranky but it happened on the footy field so there are no hard feelings.”
It was initially feared that Luciano had broken his jaw after being caught high by Penrith hooker Api Koroisau as he dived to regather a Luke Brooks grubber near the Panthers line midway through the second half.
The Tigers were trailing 12-10 at the time and, while Luciano received treatment on the ground as he awaited a medicab, referee Adam Gee had to stop players trampling him after Joey sparked a melee when he took exception to Koroisau leaning over his brother.
Koroisau has escaped a charge over the incident. The hooker said there had been nothing in the tackle and he had been checking on Luciano’s condition but he understood why Joey came racing in and later lost his way as Penrith stormed home to finish 19-12 winners.
“I’ve got nothing against Joey there, he did the right thing for his brother,” Koroisau said. “Tensions were high, it is his brother that went down and obviously he is going to be a bit upset. As you would be, as any brother would be and obviously teammates as well. There was nothing in it.”
Tempers exploded again after Leilua tackled Edwards high without the ball as he chased a Josh Reynolds kick that was fielded by Penrith centre Stephen Crichton.