Jack Wighton is risking a four-game suspension after deciding to contest a controversial shoulder charge.
Rubbing salt into South Sydney’s wounds following their narrow loss to Cronulla, Wighton was sent to the sin bin after a heavy collision with Sharks prop Toby Rudolf, with the pair clashing heads.
Rudolf failed a HIA shortly after the incident.
The hit was deemed a Grade 2 shoulder charge by the Judiciary, with Wighton handed a four-match suspension.
It could have been reduced to three games with a guilty plea, but the Rabbitohs are taking it to the judiciary on Tuesday night.
“Contact is head on head but it’s a shoulder charge with no attempt to wrap (your arms to make a tackle),” referee Belinda Sharpe told Wighton as she sin-binned him.
If unsuccessful, Wighton will miss the upcoming games against Brisbane, Gold Coast, Parramatta and the Dragons.
With the bye in the second last round, the Rabbitoh will then only be available for the clash against rivals the Roosters in the final game of the regular season.
The second two of those fixtures shape as pivotal for the bunnies in their fight to avoid the first wooden spoon of Wayne Bennett’s coaching career.
The suspension compounds Souths’ well-documented injury toll with 13 first-graders missing Saturday night’s gallant loss to the top-eight hopeful Sharks.
The Titans have lost rookie Sean Mullany, who was offered a two-match suspension he can reduce to one on a dangerous contact charge for a hip-drop tackle on Warriors forward Demitric Vaimauga.
Cowboys forward Karl Lawton has been banned for the second time this year for a dangerous tackle.
Lawton has been rubbed out for two matches, after taking the guilty plea, for a tackle on Jaydn Su’A in Friday night’s 38-32 win at QCB Stadium.
He was charged with dangerous contact for the incident, which forced Su’A from the field during the second half.
Lawton missed two games earlier this season for a cannonball-style hit on Roosters forward Siua Wong.
Cowboys coach Todd Payten needs all hands on deck as he tries to keep his team’s finals hopes alive over the closing six rounds.
Su’A’s season is likely over after suffering knee damage when he was hit around the legs by Lawton in a second-half tackle.
It’s understood the former Queensland State of Origin forward has suffered medial ligament damage, ruling him out for up to six weeks.
It means the only way he would be likely to play again this season is if the Dragons went undefeated to make an unlikely finals charge.
Raiders five-eighth Ethan Strange can take the guilty plea of a $3000 fine for a Grade 1 Shoulder Charge against Newcastle, or risk a two game ban if he contests and is found guilty. Teammate Tom Starling is facing an $1800-$2500 fine for a Dangerous Contact offence in the same game.
Sea Eagles pair Toafofoa Sipley (tripping) and Siosiua Taukeiaho (high tackle) are facing fines of $1800-$2500 for separate offences against the Bulldogs, while Jaeman Salmon was charged with a shoulder charge and is looking at a $1500-$2000 fine.
North Queensland veteran Coen Hess received a fine of $1800 for a Grade 1 Careless High Tackle.
Brisbane second-rower Brendan Piakura is facing an $1800-2500 fine in the 22-20 loss to Parramatta.
Storm prop Tui Kamikamica ($1500-$2000 for a Crusher Tackle) was the only player charged from Melbourne’s 34-30 victory over the Roosters on Thursday.
