Anyone available to play in the forwards this weekend. Please let the club know ASAP.
NRL Ben Matulino opts for early guilty plea for shoulder charge
15 Aug, 2017 1:41pm
Ben Matulino. Photo: Andrew Cornaga /
www.Photosport.co.nz
By: Michael Burgess
Football and rugby league writer for the Herald on Sunday.
michael.burgess@nzherald.co.nz@mikeburgess99
The Warriors have lost another experienced player, with Ben Matulino opting for an early guilty plea for his shoulder charge against the Raiders last Sunday.
It means that Matulino, who went on report for his second half hit on Elliott Whitehead, will serve a one week suspension and have to sit out Friday's match in Sydney against the Rabbitohs.
With James Gavet (arm), Albert Vete (knee) and Bodene Thompson (pectoral) also unavailable, the Warriors forward stocks are thinning.
But it was the right decision. If Matulino had fought the charge and lost he would have faced a two week ban, putting his out of action until the final game of the season against the Tigers, and history shows it is difficult to overturn cases involving the shoulder charge.
Instead Matulino will be available for the finale at home next week against the Manly, where the club will be desperate to end a forgettable season on a positive note.
Kieran Foran, who missed Sunday's 36-16 defeat due to a shoulder complaint, is expected to come back into the mix for Friday's match, though it will be a difficult choice for coach Stephen
Kearney as Ata Hingano was one of the best for the home side against the Raiders.
