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July 21, 2026 \u2014 10:40pm<\/p>\n
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Remove items from your saved list<\/a> to add more.<\/p>\n AAA<\/p>\n Wests Tigers rookie Javon Andrews is firming to make his NRL debut after Latu Fainu was hit with a three-match ban at the NRL judiciary on Tuesday night.<\/p>\n Fainu pleaded not guilty to a controversial grade-three dangerous contact charge, which featured him going low and upending Canterbury prop Leo Thompson into a dangerous position during Saturday\u2019s 32-0 loss.<\/p>\n There was a lot of commentary about the tackle and whether Fainu was unlucky to go to the sin-bin let alone be charged.<\/p>\n Stunned Immortal Andrew Johns said on Nine\u2019s Sunday Footy Show: \u201cHe\u2019s done nothing wrong, he\u2019s tackled low. You can\u2019t take accidents out of the game … it\u2019s not even a penalty.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou can\u2019t tackle high because you\u2019ll chin them \u2026 and you can\u2019t go low? Where are you supposed to hit them?\u201d<\/p>\n NRL counsel Lachlan Gyles argued that \u201cthis is a very important case because we don\u2019t see the tackle often\u201d, adding that \u201cit was akin to being hit with a blunt instrument\u201d.<\/p>\n Not only did Thompson risk injury to his neck, Gyles said, but there was also a chance to do damage to Thompson\u2019s knees.<\/p>\n Fainu\u2019s lawyer Nick Ghabar put the blame on Thompson, and said, \u201can accidental series of events\u201d instigated by the prop caused him to flip over.<\/p>\n Panel members Tony Puletua and Paul Simpkins were satisfied it was dangerous and could have caused an injury to Thompson\u2019s knee or neck.<\/p>\n Ghabar quickly challenged the grading in the hope of having the ban reduced to two matches, but the panel was told Fainu had received two concerning act notices for similar tackles.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n While Tigers teammate Adam Doueihi is free to play after he had his own careless high tackle charge downgraded earlier in the night at the judiciary, the Fainu suspension means Andrews, 19, is a huge chance of playing his first NRL game against the Raiders on Saturday.<\/p>\n Coach Benji Marshall did not muck around by naming Andrews, a Queensland junior, in the No. 7 jersey for the club\u2019s must-win game in the nation\u2019s capital.<\/p>\n Related Article There was speculation Andrews would be given a taste of first grade if the Tigers lost their next couple of games, and looked set to miss the finals for a 15th straight year.<\/p>\n But the Fainu setback is likely to force Marshall\u2019s hand, with Andrews every chance to come off the bench and spend time with Doueihi and Parramatta-bound Jarome Luai.<\/p>\n Doueihi, meanwhile, was relieved he was never banned for a high shot on Dogs\u2019 forward Harry Hayes.<\/p>\n Had he lost in seeking a downgrade, Doueihi risked being banned for two games, but left NRL HQ with a $1000 fine.<\/p>\n \u201cI love being out there with the boys and trying to help turn our season around again \u2013 I\u2019ve got the opportunity to go to Canberra, they\u2019re coming off the back of a few wins, and we\u2019ll go there with an ambush mentality,\u201d Doueihi said.<\/p>\n Gyles said the level of force in Doueihi\u2019s tackle \u201cwas moderate, not low\u201d, and the way he raced out of the line meant there was little room to amend his tackling target.<\/p>\n Ghabar said Hayes did not require a head injury assessment, and the contact to the head was with Doueihi\u2019s bicep \u2013 not his shoulder. The first contact, he said, was also with the leg and torso.<\/p>\n The panel agreed the contact to the head was \u201csecondary\u201d, and Doueihi tried to steady himself before he tackled Hayes.<\/p>\n Fifita ban adds to Bunnies woes<\/p>\n The news for South Sydney somehow got worse on Tuesday evening when David Fifita failed to have a dangerous contact charge downgraded at the judiciary.<\/p>\n Already without skipper Cameron Murray (calf), Tallis Duncan (hamstring), and with no clear return date for Latrell Mitchell (calf), the last thing Souths needed was to lose another experienced player like Fifita for Friday\u2019s all-important clash against Melbourne.<\/p>\n Fifita landed in hot water for lashing out with his boot into the side of Hudson Young\u2019s head just after half-time last Saturday.<\/p>\n Gyles said the level of carelessness was high, and Canberra backrower Young had no way of protecting himself.<\/p>\n Related Article Ghabar argued the tackle was no worse than Tyrell Sloan\u2019s effort on Sam Walker during a 2024 Anzac Day clash. On that occasion, St George Illawarra flyer Sloan was trying to free himself to play the ball, and was hit with a grade-one dangerous contact offence.<\/p>\n Ghabar also claimed Fifita\u2019s actions were not intentional, the level of force was \u201cat the bottom end\u201d, and the referee, sideline official and bunker all felt no need to take the matter any further during the actual game.<\/p>\n The guilty verdict means Fifita will also be forced to miss the following weeks\u2019 clash against Cronulla. Tom Fletcher was named on the extended bench, but is likely to start in the backrow against the Storm.<\/p>\n News, results and expert analysis from the weekend of sport sent every Monday. Sign up for our Sport newsletter<\/a>.<\/p>\n Save<\/p>\n You have reached your maximum number of saved items.<\/p>\n![\"Latu](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/719ead6f84851b508e6886106db9358333196dbb.jpeg\")
Latu Fainu arrives at NRL HQ on Tuesday night.Janie Barrett\/SMH<\/p>\n![\"Latu](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/ac20b487eb2c4a69f840a8b6b45566d8ab5488b80714448a21319021379e3065.gif\")
Latu Fainu\u2019s tackle on Leo Thompson.NRL<\/p>\n![\"The](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/6a2b38834e18450c7788914f4771fc6453c36c94.jpeg\")
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Adam Doueihi arrives at the NRL judiciary.Janie Barrett\/SMH<\/p>\n![\"David](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/c544a9f9af40abb5776f64c814736795153428a0.jpeg\")
David Fifita failed in his bid to have a dangerous contact charge downgraded on Tuesday night.Janie Barrett\/SMH<\/p>\n![\"How](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/55ed16ee6a507cd42ca93ad5cbc8892c983f63f9.jpeg\")
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