Johns charged
and Perry to face judiciary

Newcastle captain Andrew Johns could be suspended for three weeks after being charged with a head slam, while teammate Josh Perry has been referred straight to the National Rugby League judiciary on an eye gouging charge by commissioner Jim Hall.

Johns has been charged with a grade two offence after a tackle on Wests' centre Mark O'Halloran in the first half of a spiteful match at EnergyAustralia Stadium on Saturday night. The game's Number 1 player would be suspended for two weeks if he entered an early guilty plea and three weeks if he fought the charge at the judiciary and lost.

Perry has been charged with contrary conduct and has had the matter referred straight to the judiciary without a grading. Wests centre Terry Hill alleged the young prop gouged him in the first half of Saturday night's match.

Hill has also been charged - with a grade one dangerous throw for a tackle on Newcastle centre Mark Hughes in the first half of the match. However, Wests' winger Robbie Beckett has escaped a charge for his tackle on Newcastle fullback Robbie O'Davis, which left the Queenslander in hospital with a badly broken and fractured palate.