Egan escapes longer ban
Dragons, Tigers hang on
working with the Cowboys.
He was a member of the Cowboys’ coaching staff when they won the NRL grand final in 2015.
Asked if Payten was a longterm option, George said: ‘‘He’s keen to take on the opportunity and I really appreciate he’s stepped up to help us out through this unfortunate scenario.
‘‘It is what it is. He’ll be there until we find the right person to come to the club and coach long term.’’
The Warriors will now begin the tough job of finding the right coach to lead the club forward in difficult circumstances, and George said the club had not yet identified a list of candidates.
WARRIORS hooker Wayde Egan has escaped a more serious punishment for what could have been judged an eye gouge on Latrell Mitchell.
Egan has been handed a grade-two contrary conduct charge and will miss next weekend’s game against the Melbourne Storm if he takes an early guilty plea. If he fights the charge and loses, he will be banned for two games.
During the 40-12 loss to the Rabbitohs on Friday night, it appeared as if Egan’s hand made contact with the face of Mitchell in the 65th minute. The Rabbitohs fullback was furious and a brawl between both teams almost erupted. After that, Warriors captain Roger TuivasaSheck went to check Mitchell was OK.
In coach Stephen Kearney’s post-match press conference – with less than 24 hours left in the role – he defended Egan, saying he isn’t the sort of person who would eye gouge. ‘‘I didn’t see that, I have to have a closer look at it,’’ Kearney said. ‘‘I did see them pushing each other at the end there. Wayde Egan, he’s good as they come. I couldn’t imagine that being the case . . . he’s a good lad.’’
Rabbitohs coach Wayne Bennett held back from giving his view on what happened. ‘‘That’s a matter for the game to make a decision about, I’m siting in the stand like you are,’’ he said.
If the NRL judiciary deemed it more serious, Egan could have been referred to the judicial panel and faced a lengthy ban.
IF James Graham has played his last NRL game, St George Illawarra provided a fitting farewell. Much like gritty forward Graham, the Dragons got down and dirty for a 20-8 win over an injury-hit Gold
Coast Titans and clinch their second straight victory at a wet Suncorp Stadium yesterday.
Graham’s Dragons’ days appear numbered after the England forward approached the club this week about returning to the UK Super League to join St Helens.
Graham was demoted to the bench by coach Paul McGregor before the kick-off. But Graham finally emerged in the 20th minute to help the Dragons grind out their fifth straight win over the Titans, further easing pressure on McGregor.
The Titans started well to give hope to the 1930 fans, made up mostly of Gold Coast members, marking the first time supporters were allowed in to NRL games in Queensland since March 13.
Gold Coast managed a consolation try to Tanah Boyd
Last season the Raiders’ Hudson Young was banned for eight games for eye gouging the Warriors’ Adam Pompey.
However, it appears the judiciary didn’t look at Egan’s incident in the same light as Youngs, which will be a relief to the injury-ravaged Warriors.
With Egan banned for at least one game, Karl Lawton will play at hooker in Melbourne, but the club could be short of cover as Nathaniel Roache wasn’t expected to be fully recovered from an ACL injury until next month.
Jazz Tevaga, who can play hooker and in the middle, isn’t expected back from his calf injury for a couple more weeks. The Warriors could also be without prop Lachlan Burr next
after winger Phillip Sami (hamstring), centre Young Tonumaipea (knee) and Titans debutant fullback Cory Thompson (head), were forced off.
● Moses Mbye scored 16 points as the West Tigers held out the North Queensland Cowboys 36-20 last night.
Mbye was one of six Tigers’ try-scorers as they led 34-0, before the Cowboys roared back.
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weekend after another head knock and Kearney said David Fusitu’a also failed his HIA test, following a whack on the head from Mitchell’s swinging arm as he was about to score a try.
Remarkably, Mitchell avoided any punishment, either in the game, or afterwards by the judiciary for his actions.
So playing stocks are almost out at the Warriors and the club’s recruitment manager Peter O’Sullivan will have to try to bring in more loan players. So far, he has brought in Poasa Faamausili from the Roosters three weeks ago, initially for four weeks. There is the option to extend the loan deal and the Warriors will no doubt want to keep him for longer.