Penrith punish rusty Roosters
12 hours ago | Aidan Edgecomb
In a body blow of monumental proportions, Brisbane props Andrew Gee and Petero Civoniceva will miss Friday night's National Rugby League blockbuster against the Sydney Roosters after pleading guilty to high tackle offences.
Gee, who celebrated his 250th game last weekend, will miss three matches against the Roosters, Parramatta and Wests Tigers, while the hard-running Civoniceva will miss two. The players, who both missed matches on similar careless tackle charges last year, elected not to risk heavier suspensions by taking on the judiciary.
Coach Wayne Bennett will name a side later today with a number of options to be considered, including the fitness of five-eighth Ben Ikin who rested an AC shoulder joint injury in the loss to the Warriors.
Enigmatic Rabbitohs playmaker Owen Craigie has entered early guilty pleas to two striking offences but will be free play against Penrith at Aussie Stadium on Saturday night.
Craigie was charged with two grade one striking offences by the National Rugby League judiciary yesterday following tackles in the sixth and 27th minutes of last weekend's hard fought 32-22 win over the Wests Tigers.
And finally, zippy North Queensland fullback Matthew Bowen has also entered an early guilty plea to a grade two dangerous throw and will miss two games.