The Knights’ dominant round two win over the Dolphins has been soured, with powerful English back-rower Kai Pearce-Paul facing at least two weeks on the sidelines after the shoulder charge that got him sin binned was deemed to be a grade two offence.
The NRL released the charge sheet on Friday morning, with Pearce-Paul facing a two-match ban if he accepts the charge, or a potential three-week suspension if he opts to fight it at the judiciary and is unsuccessful.
The 24-year-old was sin binned for the incident that occurred in the 68th minute, but not until several plays after he connected high with former teammate Daniel Saifiti, with the incident initially missed by on-field referee Gerard Sutton.
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With play stopped at the opposite end due to a penalty for the Knights, Bunker official Ashley Klein intervened to instruct Sutton to remove Pearce-Paul from the action.
Kai Pearce-Paul is penalised for a shoulder charge on Daniel Saifiti. Nine
“Wow, a shoulder charge,” Andrew Johns said in commentary for Nine after the Pearce-Paul incident was replayed.
“Kai doesn’t know what’s happened, he’s asking (blue shirt trainer) Danny Buderus, ‘where was this?’, ooh, yeah, it’s in the head.”
The Knights led 26-12 with just over 11 minutes to play when Pearce-Paul went to the bin, with Cameron Smith warning the Knights to brace for a comeback that never came, with the home side’s defence holding firm and the scoreline unchanged for the rest of the match.
While Pearce-Paul’s infraction had no bearing on the outcome of the round two match, it will likely make the Knights’ visit to the Gold Coast to play the Titans next Saturday more uncomfortable, with Des Hasler’s side boasting one of the most intimidating forward packs in the competition.
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