LeagueNews.co | Nick Loken
Sea Eagles forward Toafofoa Sipley has been referred to the NRL Judiciary for a dangerous contact charge following the team's recent 20-18 loss to the Dragons.
The incident occurred during the 53rd minute of the match when Sipley was sin-binned for a tackle on Mat Feagai.
Additionally, Sipley suffered a heavy knock to the head in the same tackle and had to undergo a Head Injury Assessment (HIA) under the direction of the medical bunker.
The NRL Judiciary will now review the incident and make a decision on any potential suspension for Sipley.
Sea Eagles Coach Des Hasler expressed his disappointment over the ruling, highlighting the impact of losing a player to the sin bin during a crucial part of the game.
Hasler stated, "It was never a sin bin, let alone a penalty in any game of rugby league.
The challenge is going back and getting all the context in the scenario over the other side (from other angle) and we didn't do that.
We just chased layers again."
This incident adds to the growing scrutiny over the NRL judiciary process and the consistency in its application.
The Sea Eagles have faced a challenging start to the season with injuries and other player availability issues, making the loss of Sipley for any length of time a significant blow to the team's forward pack.
Hasler emphasized the need for a fair assessment of the incident and hoped that Sipley would not face any further repercussions.
Despite the setback, the Sea Eagles remain focused on their upcoming matches and will continue to push for success in the NRL competition.
With Sipley's availability uncertain pending the NRL Judiciary's decision, the team will need to regroup and prepare for their next game.
Hasler remains optimistic about the team's ability to bounce back from this setback, stating, "It's a stumble in the road at the moment and we'll just straighten up and we'll continue.''