Wiki To Fight High Tackle Charge

Kiwis and Canberra Raiders veteran Ruben Wiki will fight a high tackle charge that could see him miss three weeks of National Rugby League (NRL) action, starting with Friday night's clash with the New Zealand Warriors in Wellington.

Wiki visited the capital earlier this month to promote the Raiders' "home" game at Westpac Stadium but will miss the round 11 contest if the NRL judiciary finds him guilty of a grade two careless high tackle on Penrith centre Luke Lewis.

Wiki tackled Lewis in the 72nd minute of the Panthers' 28-16 victory at Canberra Stadium on Saturday night.

Raiders' management were surprised to learn Wiki had been cited by the judiciary after the incident was not placed on report by referee Sean Hampstead.

"Grade two offences are usually blatant but he wasn't put on report," a club spokesman said.

Coach Matt Elliot, operations manager Jason Mathie and Wiki met yesterday and decided to fight the charge.

Judicial matters are routinely dealt with on Wednesday unless an early guilty plea has been entered but the Raiders want their case heard today as they want the issue resolved before they head to Wellington on Wednesday.

Wiki missed two games earlier this season after pleading guilty to a grade three careless high tackle.

NEWS TO HAND. Raiders 2nd rower Ruben Wiki has sucessfully had the day of his hearing moved forward to Tuesday (today). This will give him time to have the charge resolved and ,if found not guilty, will allow him to fly to Wellington on Wednesday with the Raiders.