Jackson Ford of the Warriors is likely to be sidelined for the remainder of the regular season due to a three-game suspension following a crusher tackle on Corey Allan. The match review committee classified the tackle as a grade one charge, which will see Ford miss up to a month of play.
The incident occurred when the Dragons had just taken a 10-0 lead, with Ford’s tackle involving multiple Warriors players attempting to curb Allan’s momentum. Following the tackle, Damien Cook alerted the referee, Todd Smith, to the potential danger posed to Allan’s neck, but no penalty was issued, and the officials did not place the matter on report.
If Ford pursues a challenge against the suspension and fails, he risks being ruled out for the first week of the finals. This suspension adds a level of uncertainty for the Warriors as the end of the season approaches.
In other discipline news, Bulldogs player Josh Curran will face no repercussions for a dangerous tackle, whereas teammate Samuel Hughes has been penalised with an $1800 fine for a careless high tackle on Billy Smith. Should Hughes contest the fine and lose, the penalty could escalate to $2500.
The developments highlight the ongoing scrutiny of player conduct during matches, as safety remains a top priority in the league.