There are fears the St George Illawarra star’s season could be over as a result of the tackle.
The NRL has slapped Cowboys forward Karl Lawton with a two-game ban after a hip-drop tackle on Jaydn Su’A that may ended the Dragons forward’s season. Lawton was hit with a grade two dangerous contact charge for the incident which forced Su’A from the field during the second half of the Cowboys’ 38-32 win in Townsville on Friday night.
The victory saw Todd Payten’s side leapfrog the Dragons into 11th spot on the ladder and kept their slim finals hopes alive. But it has come at a cost for the Cowboys, with Lawton banned for the second time this season for a tackle that had eery similarities to one that injured Roosters star Siua Wong last month.
League Immortal Andrew Johns called for a crackdown on ‘third man in tackles’ after Lawton’s previous offence on Wong, and the Cowboys star found himself in hot water again during a similar incident on Friday night. Lawton was placed on report for the 51st minute tackle that saw him target Su’A’s legs after the Dragons forward was already wrapped up by two North Queensland tacklers.
The force of Lawton’s body weight fell on Su’A’s leg and he went down in immediate pain, before being helped from the field by Dragons medical staff. It later emerged that Su’A had suffered a suspected MCL injury to his knee, with the Dragons’ medical staff suggesting he could be sidelined for four to six weeks.
Given the Dragons only have six games left in the regular season, and sit six points outside the top-eight, there is the distinct possibility it is a season-ending injury for the former rep forward. And it’s another major blow to the injury-ravaged Dragons’ slim hopes of playing finals footy, despite coach Shane Flanagan insisting after the game that they have not given up on the possibility.
Lawton’s suspension is also a major setback to North Queensland’s hopes of finishing the regular season inside the top-eight, having snapped a worrying run of form with victory on Friday night. Lawton miss the Cowboys’ next two games against the Sharks and Eels with an early guilty plea, and faces a third game out if he fights the charge and loses.
Storm receive good news on Jahrome Hughes injury
Meanwhile, the Melbourne Storm have received better news on the injury front around their star halfback Jahrome Hughes, who could return from a dislocated shoulder in time for the finals. Hughes injured his shoulder in the second half of Thursday night’s win over the Roosters and had to be rushed to hospital as medical staff couldn’t get the joint back into place.
Subsequent scans revealed there was no damage to the bone and that Hughes would not require immediate surgery but he still has to undergo an MRI scan to test for further damage. However, the second-placed Storm are hopeful Hughes will be able to return after a six-week absence, putting the reigning Dally M Medal winner in line for a comeback in their final game of the regular season against Brisbane in round 27.
