Crichton facing ban after shoulder charge ‘farce’

UPDATED: Warriors coach Andrew Webster joined a chorus of bemusement after Stephen Crichton escaped on field punishment for a high shot that ended Roger Tuivasa-Sheck’s season.
Webster usually avoids criticising NRL officials but couldn’t hide his frustrations after Friday’s 34-18 loss to the Bulldogs that spoiled Shaun Johnson’s Auckland farewell.
Crichton collected Tuivasa-Sheck in the head with his shoulder early in the second half and the stumbling Warriors star was quickly ruled out of the game with a ‘category one’ concussion.
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That ends Tuivasa-Sheck’s season given the mandatory 11 day stand down and the Warriors having the bye in round 27.
Bunker official Liam Kennedy stunned most observers when he recommended referee Wyatt Raymond only put Crichton on report, citing “a high level of mitigation.”
Crichton was hit on Saturday with a grade two careless high tackle charge and is facing a one game ban with an early plea.
That would increase to two if he is found guilty.
“I’m struggling to understand how a shoulder can go into Roger’s head and the Bunker’s got ages to see it in a critical time of the game and then we lose Roger and we’ve got to reshuffle all our team,” Webster said.
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“You’ve got to reshuffle anyway – that’s football… but when it happens like that and nothing gets done to them – we’ve got to protect our players.
“And I just don’t see the consistency one little bit around that.
“Roger will miss next week now and couldn’t come back and their player goes on. That’s it.
“There are some parts there that we could have controlled better tonight and the boys know that but I am just frustrated how that happens.
“I just think they need to know what they’re doing, personally. I just don’t think they know. I don’t think they understand because the wording around what they say just isn’t clear. It’s hard.”
Panthers great Mark Geyer blew up on Twitter.
Stephen Crichton’s high shot on Roger Tuivasa-Sheck.  Fox League
“What! Manly had 3 players binned last night for the exact same thing! CONSISTENCY!!”
And another former NRL hardman, Martin Lang, agreed.
“Stephen Crichton should be in the sin bin re/contact with Roger Tuivasa-Sheck’s head. Dreadful decision.”