Burgess bother, Widdop wows and familiar names pop up at all levels down under
England ace receives two-match ban that means he moisses reunion with international team-mates
SAM Burgess will have an enforced rest after copping a two-match ban after fighting an NRL judiciary charge – and losing.
The England ace will now miss two matches, including Friday’s meeting with compatriot James Graham, after the judiciary panel punished him for making ‘dangerous contact’ with Josh Morris.
The South Sydney ace’s forearm made contact with the Canterbury star’s neck as he took the ball up – and his arguments fell on deaf ears.
“He decided to make contact with the ball-playing arm,” Burgess said. “He's probably trying to dislodge the ball.
“I braced for contact; I felt him coming quite quick. That's all I can do in this situation. I can't do anything different with my carry.”
Souths actually won Friday’s game 20-16 but it is Graham’s St George-Illawarra side that sit at the top after beating Newcastle 30-12.
Once again, England international Gareth Widdop pulled the strings and booted five goals as the Dragons went top for the first time since St George and Illawarra merged, with Scotland’s Euan Aitken also scoring a try.
Chris Heighington grabbed his first Newcastle try but it was not enough to prevent defeat.
St George-Illawarra are joined by New Zealand Warriors at the top after they featured a familiar face in their line-up that defeated Sydney Roosters 30-6, former Wigan man Anthony Gelling.
And he is not the only former Super League player plying their trade down under as the New South Wales Cup will see eight in action this weekend, including ex-Wigan prop Frank Paul Nu’uausala, who will line up for Wyong Roos.
