One of the biggest names in Group 10 will spend at least the next week on the sideline following last weekend’s brouhaha at Glen Willow, while another is free to play.
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Both Oberon prop Josh Starling and Mudgee veteran Jack Afamasaga were sent off for striking after the pair of ex-NRL players went toe-to-toe during the first half of the Dragons’ 36-18 win over the Tigers.
The Group 10 match review committee received early guilty pleas from both clubs on Wednesday night.
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The grading of Starling’s charge amassed 300 points, which would normally be a three week ban, but a clean record and the early guilty plea, which result in 50 per cent and 25 per cent reductions respectively, bring that total down to 75 points, meaning the former Newcastle Knight is free to play Blayney on Saturday.
Similarly, Afamasaga also took the early guilty plea, but he’ll miss two weeks after having carryover points next to his name.
The former Group 10 player of the year will miss Mudgee’s trip to Bathurst to face St Pat’s on Saturday before sitting out the round 17 trip to Cowra. Mudgee has a bye in round 16.
Orange Hawks will also be without one of its big men for the next couple of weeks, with Tatafu Na’aniumotu banned for two weeks after being placed on report during the two blues’ win over St Pat’s last weekend.
Video footage showed the hulking Hawks prop striking while in possession of the ball and the match review committee charged Na’aniumotu after reviewing the incident.
The two week suspension means Na’aniumotu won’t be available to play against the Workies at Lithgow this weekend or in the second derby of the season against CYMS, which is on July 29 at Wade Park.
He’ll be eligible to play again for the minor premiership favourites when they host Oberon on August 5.