Injury-ravaged Brisbane were able to breathe a sigh of relief on Monday night after the ARL Commission opted not to use its special powers to charge hooker Cory Paix over the tackle that left Manly veteran Siua Taukeiaho nursing a badly broken leg.
The Broncos were already down on troops heading into Magic Round and Paix was in danger of being added to the list after Manly made a formal request for the ARL Commission to review the match review committee’s decision to clear the Brisbane No.9.
This masthead understands that the NRL informed Manly late on Monday that their request had been rejected and the MRC decision would stand.
Taukeiaho underwent surgery on Monday morning to repair a broken leg after his tibia and fibula were fractured in a tackle by Paix during the Sea Eagles’ big win over the Broncos on Saturday night at 4 Pines Park.
The MRC reviewed the incident on Sunday morning and opted not to issue a charge. It is believed the Sea Eagles asked them to reconsider but the MRC chose to stand their ground.
The Sea Eagles then reached out to the ARL Commission, believing Paix’s tackle exhibited the hallmarks of a hip drop. However, rather than Paix’s hip dropping down on Taukeiaho’s leg, it was his knee.
The outcome was no less devastating for the Sea Eagles veteran, who is off contract at the end of the season and now facing an uncertain future in the game after having a rod inserted in his leg.
He is still in hospital. It is understood the ARL Commission told Manly that the video evidence did not support a finding that Paix’s conduct was careless.
That’s cold comfort for Manly and Taukeiaho, whose injury soured an otherwise successful night for the Sea Eagles as they celebrated Jake Trbojevic’s 250th first grade game with their fifth win in six weeks under interim coach Kieran Foran.
The ARLC were granted the power to review MRC decisions four years ago – it was used for the first time last year when Bulldogs captain Steve Crichton was charged over an incident involving former Melbourne fullback Ryan Papenhuyzen.
Ironically, only last week the Broncos asked the ARL Commission to review the MRC’s decision not to charge Sydney Roosters forward Victor Radley over a tackle on Broncos star Patrick Carrigan.
Paix has escaped sanction as well in a boost for Brisbane’s hopes of getting back in the winner’s circle against the Warriors on Sunday.
The Broncos can ill-afford to lose any more players given the club’s long list of absences headlined by NSW aspirants Payne Haas and Kotoni Staggs, as well as Brendan Piakura, Billy Walters, Corey Jensen, Blake Mozer and Deine Mariner.