The Panthers, Knights, and Bulldogs are facing suspensions as they approach the second-to-last round of the NRL regular season, while the Warriors may lose Dallin Watene-Zelezniak for the remainder of the year. The Panthers received the most significant setback, with five-eighth Jack Cogger receiving a three-game suspension.
Cogger was sin-binned after hitting Tyran Wishart high while rushing out of the line. Since this was his third Grade 2 charge for the year, the penalty translates to three games suspended, or four if he challenges it unsuccessfully. This means he will sit out the last two regular-season games and the opening week of the finals, paving the way for either Blaize Talagi or Jack Cole to pair with Nathan Cleary in the halves.
On Sunday, the Knights faced a double setback with Dom Young and Tyson Frizell receiving one-game suspensions. Both players were penalized for hip-drop tackles against Tolu Koula and Tom Trbojevic during Newcastle's defeat to Manly. Koula sustained a syndesmosis injury and is expected to miss the rest of the season, while Young and Frizell will be absent in the Knights' Round 26 match against the Warriors. This loss has significantly diminished Newcastle's hopes of a top-four finish as they prepare for a tough matchup in New Zealand.
Bulldogs winger Jonathan Sua was also suspended, facing the same penalty for a hip-drop tackle in their victory against the Dragons. He will be sidelined for the Round 26 game against Penrith, with the Bulldogs looking to secure a win while sitting just two points away from the top eight.
Additionally, Victor Radley might be added to this list of suspensions after being reported for a high tackle during the Roosters' surprising loss to the Tigers. So far this year, the State of Origin forward has been charged five times and has faced one suspension.
For the Warriors, Watene-Zelezniak is set to undergo surgery for a broken collarbone suffered during their win against South Sydney. He will have the procedure on Monday, and coach Andrew Webster is hopeful he can return for the finals. "People probably don't realise, Dallin did it in the first half," Webster shared with Newstalk ZB. "He kept running the football, wincing and going back to the wing in pain. At half-time, he took his jersey off to try and get it treated, and I saw him try and put it back on and it wasn't a nice look."