New Zealand Warriors star James Fisher-Harris has copped a suspension from the NRL judiciary for a high shot on Dolphins hooker Harrison Graham, in a blow to his team’s outstanding start to the 2025 season.
Fisher-Harris was sin-binned late in the second half after his shoulder connected with Graham’s head in a tackle gone wrong.
Leading 16-6 at the time, the sin-binning caused a late scare for the Warriors, with the Dolphins scoring a try and nearly adding a second to snatch an unlikely victory.
The incident was deemed a Grade 2 careless high tackle, carrying with it a two-match sanction, or one if Fisher-Harris accepts an early plea.
On return from a pectoral strain, Fisher-Harris was sin-binned for the high tackle late in his second-placed team’s win over the Dolphins at Suncorp Stadium.
If he accepts the charge, Fisher-Harris will miss the Warriors’ blockbuster Round 12 clash with the Canberra Raiders next Sunday.
He was the only player suspended from Saturday’s NRL action, with Kodi Nikorima, Reuben Garrick and Siosifa Talakai all receiving fines for foul play.
Melbourne star Ryan Papenhuyzen has avoided any charge over his last-minute hit on Ronaldo Mulitalo and the pair have cleared the air following Cronulla’s NRL win.
In a dramatic closing to the Sharks’ 31-26 win over the Storm, Papenhuyzen was hit high by Talakai before Mulitalo stood over the top of the Melbourne No.1.
The pair clashed again on the next play, when Mulitalo defused a last-ditch Melbourne bomb and copped a high swinging arm from Papenhuyzen while on the ground.
Referee Adam Gee placed Papenhuyzen on report, but opted against giving Cronulla a penalty in order to end the game and stop emotions boiling over again.
Talakai was on Sunday handed a fine over his high shot on Papenhuyzen, while the Storm fullback was not charged at all.
“Me and Ronaldo spoke after the game, we’re all good,” Papenhuyzen said afterwards.
“We just spoke about having a competitive nature and that’s going to happen in games.
We respect that about each other. We spoke about it, we’re all good. It’s all on the field and we just get on with it.
“It was two competitive sides. It just got a bit competitive there and heated. That’s what you like.”
Canterbury captain Stephen Crichton, meanwhile, is in the clear after copping a grade-one dangerous contact charge that carries with it a $3000 fine after Canterbury’s win over the Sydney Roosters.
Had the Bulldog copped a grade-two charge for putting his shoulder into Lindsay Collins’ head, he would have been looking at a three-match ban.
Crichton is a near-certainty to be picked by the Blues at the end of this round for the May 28 series opener, but Lomax remains in a more uncertain spot.
with AAP
