Eels star faces lengthy NRL ban over dangerous throw

The NRL have come down hard on Kelma Tuilagi, hitting the Parramatta second-rower with a ban of up to five games for a dangerous throw on Lindsay Collins.

Tuilagi was sent to the sin bin early in the Eels’ 28-18 loss to the Sydney Roosters on Saturday night, after upending Collins in a tackle and flipping him over.

The second-rower, who narrowly avoided being sent off for the tackle, was on Sunday hit with a grade-three dangerous throw charge.

He will miss four matches with an early guilty plea, or risk a fifth game out if he attempts to fight the ban.

The charge is the equivalent grade to the one given to the last three players who were sent off for dangerous throws.

Warriors winger Dallin Watene-Zelezniak is also facing a ban for his off-the-ball coathanger tackle on Melbourne’s Grant Anderson.

Watene-Zelezniak will miss the June 22 clash against Gold Coast with an early plea, while he would risk a two-match ban if he unsuccessfully contests the charge.

Sydney Roosters pair Jared Waerea-Hargreaves and Naufahu Whyte were also charged after the win over the Eels, but can avoid bans and accept fines.