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Knights' Thompson gets a week, Aloiai not charged

3 minute read

Leo Thompson has received a ban for tackling Ryan Papenhuyzen in air but Josh Aloiai won't be sanctioned for losing his cool late in Manly's loss to Parramatta.

CRAIG BELLAMY.
CRAIG BELLAMY. Picture: Darrian Traynor/Getty Images

Leo Thompson is set to miss Newcastle's semi-final rematch with the Warriors after being handed a one-game ban for tackling Melbourne fullback Ryan Papenhuyzen in mid-air.

The outlook is better for Manly's Josh Aloiai, who has not been charged for striking rival prop Reagan Campbell-Gillard during the loss to Parramatta.

Thompson went on report for collecting Papenhuyzen as he jumped to field a kick during the final 15 minutes of the Knights' 14-12 win on Sunday.

The injury-plagued Papenhuyzen fell heavily and awkwardly to the turf but was able to play on.

Storm coach Craig Bellamy was not fussed about the contact on Papenhuyzen.

"I think he had eyes for the ball," he said of Knights prop Thompson.

"I'm not going to try and make a decision I don't have to make. It's hard enough making decisions you have to make so I'll leave it to them (the MRC)."

On Monday morning, the match review committee handed Thompson a grade-two dangerous contact charge, meaning he will sit out of one game with an early guilty plea.

Thompson risks missing the round-five match against St George Illawarra as well as the trip to Auckland if he chooses to challenge the charge and lose at the NRL judiciary on Tuesday night.

Jack Hetherington is the most obvious choice to come back into the side to replace Thompson if he can recover from the ankle injury he suffered in round two.

Hetherington was initially named on the bench to face the Storm but dropped out late and did not suit up in NSW Cup.

Aloiai went to the sin bin after striking Campbell-Gillard with an open palm during a melee in the final minute of the Sea Eagles' 28-24 loss to the Eels.

The 28-year-old also went on report for leading with his head into J'maine Hopgood and sparking the fracas, but escaped sanction for either incident. He will be free to face the Dragons next week.

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