hotdiggitydogs
Kennel Participant
- Joined
- Mar 24, 2009
- Messages
- 301
- Reaction score
- 3
Blair to miss NRL grand final rematch
Print
- Font
+ Font
RSS
AAP Mon, 07 Sep 2009 15:06:47
Melbourne's forwards depth is set to be tested in Friday night's opening NRL qualifying final against Manly after prop Adam Blair was charged by the match review committee.
Blair has been charged with grade one dangerous contact for a "chicken-wing" tackle on the Warriors' Micheal Luck during Saturday's 30-0 victory to the Storm in Auckland.
The New Zealand international will miss the grand final rematch regardless of whether the Storm accept the ban or choose to fight it at the NRL judiciary.
The Storm are battling a front row injury crisis with Matt Cross (leg) out for the season and Jeff Lima still in doubt with a broken thumb.
Second-rower Sika Manu is also sidelined for the season with a leg injury.
Blair's charge could also reignite debate about Melbourne's wrestling tactics, which have previously cost the side dearly in finals football.
Last year, influential captain Cameron Smith was rubbed out of the grand final - lost 40-0 - for a grapple tackle the week before in a preliminary final against Brisbane.
The Bulldogs received a reprieve when the match review committee decided against charging centre Josh Morris following a lifting tackle on Wests Tigers prop Keith Galloway in Friday night's 34-12 loss at the Sydney Football Stadium.
South Sydney's Ben Lowe was charged with a grade one careless high tackle but will not miss any matches when the 2010 season gets underway.
- Font
+ Font
RSS
AAP Mon, 07 Sep 2009 15:06:47
Melbourne's forwards depth is set to be tested in Friday night's opening NRL qualifying final against Manly after prop Adam Blair was charged by the match review committee.
Blair has been charged with grade one dangerous contact for a "chicken-wing" tackle on the Warriors' Micheal Luck during Saturday's 30-0 victory to the Storm in Auckland.
The New Zealand international will miss the grand final rematch regardless of whether the Storm accept the ban or choose to fight it at the NRL judiciary.
The Storm are battling a front row injury crisis with Matt Cross (leg) out for the season and Jeff Lima still in doubt with a broken thumb.
Second-rower Sika Manu is also sidelined for the season with a leg injury.
Blair's charge could also reignite debate about Melbourne's wrestling tactics, which have previously cost the side dearly in finals football.
Last year, influential captain Cameron Smith was rubbed out of the grand final - lost 40-0 - for a grapple tackle the week before in a preliminary final against Brisbane.
The Bulldogs received a reprieve when the match review committee decided against charging centre Josh Morris following a lifting tackle on Wests Tigers prop Keith Galloway in Friday night's 34-12 loss at the Sydney Football Stadium.
South Sydney's Ben Lowe was charged with a grade one careless high tackle but will not miss any matches when the 2010 season gets underway.
