PARODY: Pauli Pauli faces ten-week ban as by match review committee

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Pauli Pauli of the Eels faces a lengthy ban.

Photo: Getty Images

Parramatta's Pauli Pauli is potentially facing ten weeks on the sidelines after being charged with a grade-three dangerous contact by the NRL match review committee.

Pauli has been sanctioned for his tackle on Penrith's Jamie Soward in Friday's big win for the Eels and will serve a eight-week ban if he takes the early guilty plea and six if he fights the charge and loses.

Anthony Watmough has leapt to the defence of Parramatta teammate Pauli Pauli who is expected to come under scrutiny from the match review committee - for the lateness not the point of contact - on Monday for the tackle which forced Jamie Soward from the field.

Soward was upset at the perceived lateness of the Pauli tackle, who collected the Penrith half after he had passed the ball during Parramatta's 26-20 win on Friday night. Former Test players Matthew and Andrew Johns also criticised Pauli for the tackle while Soward will learn on Monday how long he is expected to spend on the sidelines after hurting his shoulder in a tackle. Pauli was placed on report, with Soward returning for the dying stages of the game.

Pauli's Eels teammate Watmough said any suspension would be an overreaction.

"It's a game of footy," Watmough told Triple M. "If that happened to our player it would be play on. Because Pauli is such a big kid, he hit him and hurt him. [Soward] took the ball the line if you watch it in normal pace there is nothing in it."

The injury threatens to derail Soward's hopes of an Origin recall with the three-time Blues player in line to replace the out-of-form Trent Hodkinson for Origin II. Pauli's tackle has drawn parallels with the early season collisions of Beau Scott against Johnathan Thurston which went unpunished.

Watmough said Pauli had been "committed" to tackling Soward.

"That's probably where we have to improve a bit as a team is coming through and putting pressure on and Pauli did that," Watmough said. "That happens eight times every game. Why does it on one occasion deserve all this attention? Is it because he is a bigger guy?

"I don't think it was late. I think he was committed to the tackle. He is a big guy, you try and pull out of a tackle at 120 kilograms and see how hard it is. There are 100 tackles worse than that. Watch it in normal speed. Don't slow it down."

Soward left Pepper Stadium with his right arm in a sling.

"You saw it, I didn't see it. But I'm pretty sure I passed the ball well before I got hit," Soward said on Friday night. "You guys will have to make your minds up on [whether it was a cheap shot. Of course [I'm filthy]. We're at a stage at the moment where you can't get put in the bin, you can't get sent off so what are we looking for?"

The Panthers will be sweating on positive news for Soward after fullback Matt Moylan was ruled out for six weeks with ankle ligament damage.

"I respect their opinions Nitram but,to come out and put shit on a player who didn't play in the game is ludicrous. If he had said Junior, JDB or Pezet you could understand."

"Is it MON that needs to change? I mean i know the answer is more likely yes but the fact he has gone for so many big targets and cannot get them is concerning and surely Beach and Saranatinos know that. Surely Ryles sees that."

"The Roosters are amazing. Just ask literally any journalist. My favourite thing to watch next to an Eels victory is a Roosters loss. We know the NRL is biased and the Roosters have scammed the comp for decades. "

Replies

Yobz June 1, 2015 at 1:09pm

"serve a eight-week ban if he takes the early guilty plea and six if he fights the charge and loses"

And loving the links at the bottom. LOL. One of your best!
- Wile E. Coyote > Yobz June 1, 2015 at 1:52pm
  
  Great links - I thought they were a hoax too
  Pity you got beaten by the real story or you would have got a few more - including me
ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER June 1, 2015 at 1:15pm

That's a F##KING joke I hope Parramatta fight that 10 weeks what a joke at best 2 weeks that's all THE NRL ARE A JOKE
- eels93 > ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER June 1, 2015 at 1:19pm
  
  Why do you always believe everything you read? He won't miss any games with an early guilty plea.
- Glenn Lifetime Eel > ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER June 2, 2015 at 8:43am
  
  Sorry Paul you keep getting sucked in by Parody. Remember, any blog of his is probably made up.
ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER June 1, 2015 at 1:16pm

If Pauli get 8 weeks or more Parramatta will not resign him I think
- ┌∩┐Parody┌∩┐ > ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER June 1, 2015 at 1:20pm
  
  The match review committee is a joke Paul, they love suspending Parra players.
Enforcer Eel June 1, 2015 at 1:24pm

Once Pauli Pauli tells tbe MRC that it was in BA game plan to take Soward out, he will get off.
Done and dusted
ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER June 1, 2015 at 1:31pm

I hope you are right eels93 but don't forget junior Paulo 10 weeks suspending that was a joke to
Carl June 1, 2015 at 1:37pm

He didn't get anything
If he takes to early plea
He is free to play against the cowboys.