3 minute read
Cronulla winger Ronaldo Mulitalo has been cited for a shoulder charge and will miss Saturday's final against Manly unless he beats it at the NRL judiciary.
Cronulla winger Ronaldo Mulitalo will miss his side's NRL elimination final against Manly after being banned for a shoulder charge.
Mulitalo has pleaded guilty to a first-half hit on Luke Brooks in Sunday's win over Wests Tigers that was not penalised, and has been suspended for one match.
On another busy day for the league's match review committee, Kangaroos prop David Klemmer was also charged for abusing an NRL official.
The Newcastle forward was cited for the offence, as he attempted to leave the field to be interchanged late in the Knights' 54-10 flogging at the hands of Penrith.
He will avoid suspension but be fined a maximum of $1500 over the offence, which can be reduced to $1150 with an early guilty plea.
The NRL confirmed on Monday the interchange official was correct to send the Knights prop back on the field.
But it's the ban of Mulitalo that will have an influence over the finals, after he would have risked two weeks had he challenged it and lost.
The rookie winger has scored three tries, made four linebreaks and busted 22 tackles in the past three weeks alone for the Sharks.
His absence could be offset if Matt Moylan returns to the Sharks side at fullback, allowing Josh Dugan to return to the wing in Mulitalo's place.
However Moylan is still considered unlikely to line up on Saturday after suffering hamstring tightness, meaning Sione Katoa or Aaron Gray would shape as Mulitalo's likely replacement.