Rugby League great Michael Ennis believes Brent Naden could face an eight-week suspension after the Tigers center-back was sent off for a dangerous entry into Manly star Jake Trbojevic.
With 15 minutes to go before the end of Sunday’s clash, Naden lifted Trbojevic over the horizontal and the Sea Eagles’ blockade landed uncomfortably on his head.
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“This tackle escaped Naden … check out Jack Trbojevic’s well-being. That’s horrible,” Fox League commentator Brenton Speed said.
Referee Peter Gough called Naden to report him and expel him. He became the first Tigers player to be sent off in 20 years.
It came after Naden spent 15 minutes off the field before the match due to an HIA after suffering a head injury.
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“I’m just wondering if he’ll remember what happened since he came back from that blow to the head because he let two attempts go through his channel and now he sent his tackle which went terribly wrong,” Speed said.
Steve ‘Blocker’ Roach said Naden had put Trbojevic in a “dangerous position” and that it is an entry that needs to be removed from the game.
“That’s bad,” he said.
“Even though Jake got up straight, he knew it was an accident, but you can’t do it for the safety of the players anymore.”
The Naden showdown comes six weeks after Manly utility Karl Karlton was ousted and given a four-week suspension for a similar entry to Rabbitohs boss Cameron Murray.
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Fox League reporter Matt Russell asked Roach if Lawton had four weeks to face Naden.
“I think he’s going to be looking at a bit of a stay on the sidelines, maybe even more than four weeks. That one seemed very dangerous,” Roach said.
However, Michael Ennis believes that Naden should receive a much bigger ban than Lawton.
“I think he’s been watching for eight weeks,” he said.
“It simply came to our notice then.
“No player comes out to do that, but the fact is that he lands on his head and it could have been a very, very bad result for Jake Trbojevic.
“I think he’ll get a suspension in about eight weeks, I really have that.”
Trbojevic was given a chance to change things around.
“I wasn’t very bad … a little unlucky, I think for Brent Naden. I know I didn’t mean it, there was no malice and I was very sorry. So everything went well,” Trbojevic said.
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But Corey Parker agreed with Ennis and suggested that maybe Naden could be more than eight weeks old.
“It was as bad as I’ve seen in the last few years,” he said.
“Jake Trbojevic, yes, he stood up and said he was fine, but the surprise on his face, he was scared there for a moment.
“I wouldn’t be surprised if he was more sincere”
Braith Anasta added: “This is the worst of the year … it has some problems.”