Cronulla captain Paul Gallen is set to miss the final round of the NRL regular season after being charged over a crusher tackle on North Queensland's Scott Bolton.
Gallen is facing a one-game ban, with the match review committee slapping a grade one dangerous contact - unnecessary head/neck pressure charge on the Sharks, NSW and Australian Test lock.
Loading and 38 carry-over points from his infamous punch to the head of Queensland's Nate Myles in State of Origin II pushed the charge over the threshold for a one-game ban.
Whether he takes the early guilty plea or fails to beat the charge, Gallen will still be available for the Sharks' opening finals encounter the following weekend.
Had Gallen been charged with anything greater than grade one, he could have been in danger of missing Cronulla's sudden death clash in the opening week of the finals.
As it is, the ban could not have come at a better time for the Sharks, who cannot be moved out of fifth or sixth - guaranteeing them home ground advantage in the opening week of the finals.
Four other players were also charged by the match review committee, but all can avoid suspension with early guilty pleas.
Roosters lock Frank-Paul Nuuausala copped a grade one dangerous throw for lifting Gold Coast's Ryan James, while Canterbury's Josh Jackson and Brisbane pair Peter Wallace and Dunamis Lui all received grade one careless high tackle charges.
Source: http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-09-02/gallen-to-miss-a-week-for-crusher-tackle/4929498
Topic: Gallen to miss Sharks clash with Raiders
