The grand final dreams of two of Group 11’s leading players are in tatters following Thursday night’s judiciary hearing.
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Dubbo Macquarie and the Nyngan Tigers were both dealt huge blows with the 2016 campaigns of Raiders half Josh Merritt and Western Rams hooker Reece Goldsmith both ended due to suspension.
Six players fronted a three-man panel on Thursday evening following last weekend’s heated qualifying final between the two sides.
Three players had their cases dismissed due to lack of evidence while Nyngan outside back Jone Yacadrau received a one-week ban for a head-high tackle, meaning he will miss Sunday’s major semi-final with CYMS.
Merritt received the heaviest ban for being the third man in and striking and is out until May 22 of next year, which works out to be seven weeks of football. His suspension was originally 11 weeks but was downgraded.
Goldsmith, charged with a dangerous throw, is suspended until September 12, cruelly rubbing him out of the September 11 grand final, should the Tigers make it that far.
Both clubs have the right to appeal the suspensions but a representative from the Country Rugby League (CRL) confirmed even if that is the case the players will still miss this weekend’s fixtures.
The Raiders’ season goes on the line in Saturday’s minor semi-final clash with Forbes, and Merritt’s suspension is the latest blow following Dylan Hill’s apparent career ending knee injury suffered last week while Damien Wells will not play either.
Wells suffered a neck injury and another bout of concussion in the tackle which resulted in Yacadrau’s ban.
Kini Talaulucavu of Macquarie and Nyngan’s Rod Coates were both sent from the field for striking last week following the melee but both had their cases dropped due to insufficient evidence.
Nyngan’s Loma Atuaua also fronted for his role in the spear tackle but his case was also dropped.
“It was a brilliant game with 15 minutes to go and then a few individuals went above and beyond the law and it took away from the game,” disappointed Group 11 secretary Ross McDermott said.