North Queensland Cowboys forward Thomas Gilbert is facing three weeks on the sidelines for a crusher tackle on the New Zealand Warriors’ King Vuniyayawa.

In just his second game of first-grade, Gilbert has been charged with grade two dangerous contact to the head or neck.

The base penalty for that charge is 300 points, or three weeks, but worryingly for Gilbert he has 55 carry-over points from a previous incident.

An early guilty plea may have seen him escape with a two-week suspension but the carry-over points means that is highly unlikely unless he fights the grading of the charge.

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The incident happened in the 44th minute of the Warriors impressive 37-26 victory over the Cowboys at Central Coast Stadium.

You can watch the incident in the video player below.

 

 

Gilbert was one of four players charged by the NRL Match Review committee after two matches on Friday night. 

Poasa Faamausili was charged with grade one dangerous contact to the head or neck on Kyle Feldt. 

Jack Murchie was also slapped with a grade one dangerous contact charge after an apparent chicken wing on Gilbert in the first-half. 

Meanwhile, Parramatta Eels forward Kane Evans was also hit with a grade one dangerous contact charge for a tackle on Penrith’s Liam Martin early in the second-half. 

While Faamausili and Murchie should escape suspension with an early guilty plea, Kane Evans could be in trouble due to 25 carry-over points. 

Danny Levi was the only player charged on Thursday night but should also be free to play in round six with an early guilty plea.

Round Five Judiciary Charges

Danny Levi (Manly Sea Eagles) – Grade One Dangerous Contact Head/Neck on Matthew Lodge – 100 points (75 early plea)

Poasa Faamausili (New Zealand Warriors) – Grade One Dangerous Contact Head/Neck on Kyle Feldt – 100 points (75 early plea)

Jack Murchie (New Zealand Warriors) – Grade One Dangerous Contact on Thomas Gilbert – 100 points (75 early plea)

Thomas Gilbert (North Queensland Cowboys) – Grade One Dangerous Contact Head/Neck on King Vuniyayawa – 300 points (270 early plea – 20% loading) + 55 carry-over points

Kane Evans (Parramatta Eels) – Grade One Dangerous Contact on Liam Martin – 100 points (90 early plea – 20% loading) + 25 carry-over points

North Queensland Cowboys forward Thomas Gilbert is facing three weeks on the sidelines for a crusher tackle on the New Zealand Warriors’ King Vuniyayawa.

In just his second game of first-grade, Gilbert has been charged with grade two dangerous contact to the head or neck.

The base penalty for that charge is 300 points, or three weeks, but worryingly for Gilbert he has 55 carry-over points from a previous incident.

An early guilty plea may have seen him escape with a two-week suspension but the carry-over points means that is highly unlikely unless he fights the grading of the charge.

MORE: Mose Masoe posts video of him walking following severe spinal injury

The incident happened in the 44th minute of the Warriors impressive 37-26 victory over the Cowboys at Central Coast Stadium.

Gilbert was one of four players charged by the NRL Match Review committee after two matches on Friday night. 

Poasa Faamausili was charged with grade one dangerous contact to the head or neck on Kyle Feldt. 

Jack Murchie was also slapped with a grade one dangerous contact charge after an apparent chicken wing on Gilbert in the first-half. 

Meanwhile, Parramatta Eels forward Kane Evans was also hit with a grade one dangerous contact charge for a tackle on Penrith’s Liam Martin early in the second-half. 

While Faamausili and Murchie should escape suspension with an early guilty plea, Kane Evans could be in trouble due to 25 carry-over points. 

Danny Levi was the only player charged on Thursday night but should also be free to play in round six with an early guilty plea.

Round Six Judiciary Charges

Danny Levi (Manly Sea Eagles) – Grade One Dangerous Contact Head/Neck on Matthew Lodge – 100 points (75 early plea)

Poasa Faamausili (New Zealand Warriors) – Grade One Dangerous Contact Head/Neck on Kyle Feldt – 100 points (75 early plea)

Jack Murchie (New Zealand Warriors) – Grade One Dangerous Contact on Thomas Gilbert – 100 points (75 early plea)

Thomas Gilbert (North Queensland Cowboys) – Grade One Dangerous Contact Head/Neck on King Vuniyayawa – 300 points (270 early plea – 20% loading) + 55 carry-over points

Kane Evans (Parramatta Eels) – Grade One Dangerous Contact on Liam Martin – 100 points (90 early plea – 20% loading) + 25 carry-over points

Rabbitohs forward Sam Burgess has been charged by the NRL’s Match Review Committee for a cannonball tackle in his side’s Saturday afternoon loss to the Penrith Panthers.

The charge comes after North Queesland skipper Johnathan Thurston walked free from what seemed to be an obvious shoulder charge in the all-Queensland battle in Brisbane on Friday night.

Thurston braced for impact on Broncos winger Corey Oates with his arm tucked into his body, however the MRC deemed the contact to be legal.

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Burgess didn’t have the same luck, pinned for a grade one dangerous contact charge as he dropped Penrith’s Reagan Campbell-Gillard to the floor with a late dive at his legs.

If the Englishman takes the early guilty plea, he will be free to play Manly next Saturday, however if he chooses to fight the charge, Burgess risks a one-game suspension.

He became the second player of the round to be hit with the same offence after Canterbury prop Aaron Woods was nailed for a similar tackle on Roosters lock Isaac Liu.

In 2014 – twelve months after the NRL outlawed shoulder charge –  the NRL put more specific guidelines in place for referees policing cannonball tackles to help prevent lower leg injuries.

While the cannonball is closley being subjected to punishment, the shoulder charge hasn’t faced the same amount of scrutiny after Thurston was handed a get out of jail free card.

Fox Sports commentators Warren Ryan, Corey Parker and Michael Ennis believe the Cowboys leader is a lucky man.

“Something of a shoulder charge there from Thurston,” Ryan said.

“That’s exactly what it is, Waz, a shoulder charge,” added Parker.

“Whether he’s bracing or not, he’s in the position of what looks to be a shoulder charge,” said Ennis.

Burgess will escape suspension for the grade-one charge with an early guilty plea, after he was penalised for his chopping down the legs of a stationary Reagan Campbell-Gillard in the Rabbitohs’ 18-14 loss on Saturday.

Burgess’ prior history means the charge attracts 120 demerit points, however that can be reduced to 90 if he opts to skip the judiciary with an early plea.

It comes after Canterbury prop Aaron Woods copped the same charge for a hit on Sydney Roosters’ Isaac Liu in the Bulldogs’ loss on Friday night.

He too can escape suspension for the hit.

Burgess was the only player charged from Saturday’s three matches.

Burgess will escape suspension for the grade-one charge with an early guilty plea, after he was penalised for his chopping down the legs of a stationary Reagan Campbell-Gillard in the Rabbitohs’ 18-14 loss on Saturday.

Burgess’ prior history means the charge attracts 120 demerit points, however that can be reduced to 90 if he opts to skip the judiciary with an early plea.

It comes after Canterbury prop Aaron Woods copped the same charge for a hit on Sydney Roosters’ Isaac Liu in the Bulldogs’ loss on Friday night.

He too can escape suspension for the hit.

Burgess was the only player charged from Saturday’s three matches.