Dragons forward Ryan Couchman has been referred directly to the NRL judiciary by the match review committee for a hip-drop tackle that has ended J’maine Hopgood’s season.
Eels coach Jason Ryles confirmed after Sunday’s win over St George Illawarra that Hopgood had ruptured the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee following a tackle by Couchman in the first half.
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Couchman was sent to the sin bin for the 28th minute incident, with the MRC charges dropping two hours later than usual.
Manly’s Toff Sipley received a four-match ban last season after he was referred to the judiciary for a dangerous contact charge, with Couchman to learn his fate at NRL headquarters on Tuesday night.
Ryles said the tackle was an accident but warned the NRL that increased set restarts would lead to more incidents like this if defenders lose their tackle technique due to fatigue.
“It’s really disappointing … that’s his season,” the Eels coach said, with Couchman suffering an ACL injury last year that wiped him out for all but one game.
“Those tackles, 99.99999 per cent of the time the boys don’t mean it, so it’s not intentional.
“But unfortunately you keep throwing fatigue into the game and you keep making them (more tired) they happen.
“So that’s the reality. You’ve just got to practise and mitigate it as much as you can and hope that it doesn’t happen.”
Meanwhile, Cowboys centre Tom Chester can accept a one-match ban for a high shot on Titans halfback Jayden Campbell on Sunday night.
Chester, who was sent to the sin bin, risks an extra week on the sidelines if he fights the grade 2 careless high tackle charge and loses.
