Felise Kaufusi slapped with three-match ban, doubtless ruling out State of Origin opener
Felise Kaufusi should combat and win on the judiciary if he’s any likelihood to play the State of Origin opener in Adelaide on Might 31, after getting slapped with a three-match ban for a excessive shot.
Key factors:
- Felise Kaufusi will miss Origin I until he fights the cost and wins on the judiciary
- He performed the primary two video games of final 12 months’s sequence and missed the decider for household causes
- The 31-year-old has already served a four-game suspension this 12 months
Kaufusi was sin-binned for a second-minute sort out on former Melbourne Storm teammate Christian Welch within the Dolphins’ 24-16 loss at Lang Park on Saturday evening.
Dolphins coach Wayne Bennett stated he anticipated Kaufusi to not face a ban, pointing to the $1,800 effective handed all the way down to NSW five-eighth Jarome Luai for pushing a contact choose in Penrith’s 15-4 win over Brisbane on Friday.
“He bought a effective, did not he?” Bennett stated.
“In case you appear like being in Origin you’re a actual good likelihood of getting a effective or not responsible.”
However Kaufusi didn’t get any particular remedy for Origin representatives, charged with a grade-two careless excessive sort out and going through a minimum of three video games on the sidelines with an early responsible plea.
The 31-year-old appeared prone to be picked in coach Billy Slater’s Queensland aspect this 12 months after taking part in the primary two Origin video games of 2022 earlier than lacking the decider to be together with his in poor health father.
If he fights the cost and loses, he might be out for 4 matches.
After a rollicking begin to the season, punctuated by defensive highlights, Kaufusi’s ill-discipline has bought the higher of him numerous instances.
This was his third current comparable offence and he has already served a four-week ban earlier this 12 months for a late hit on Newcastle’s Jackson Hastings.
“I do not know whether or not he would do the identical factor if he had his time over once more,” Storm coach Craig Bellamy stated.
“The sunshine up right here [in Brisbane] mightn’t be so good for him. It would make him extra aggressive.
“He appears to be on the indignant capsules, however I can not bear in mind having to tug him again too far with us.
“He was all the time an aggressive participant, particularly defensively. You need that out of your gamers however there has bought to be a degree the place you’ll be able to’t go above. Maybe he has stepped over that a few instances this 12 months.”
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