Soliola cops big ban for brutal hit on Slater
Canberra forward Sia Soliola has been handed a five-week suspension for his sickening late hit on Storm star Billy Slater.
Soliola was referred straight to the NRL judiciary after knocking out the Melbourne fullback on Saturday night with a high and late tackle.
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Soliola's defence argued that the hit on Slater was careless and not reckless, and that the Raider deserved only a three-week ban given the Storm fullback was falling in the tackle.
But in a 100-minute hearing, NRL counsel Anthony Lo Surdo told the three-man panel of Bob Lindner, Shaun Garlick and Mal Cochrane that the hit was reckless and needed a six-week ban.
After deliberation the panel came back with the five-game ban, ironically making Soliola eligible to return in Round 26 when Canberra take on Melbourne again.
Soliola has very remorseful as he fronted the media after the hearing and apologised to Slater.
"I'd like to thank the NRL for giving me a fair hearing, I respect and accept the punishment," he said.
"I'm sorry to Billy and his family and the Storm as well as my team and the Canberra fans.
"I know this has put a bad light on our game, I love this game because it's given me so much."
A concussed Slater will miss Melbourne's Round 21 clash with Manly, with teammate Cooper Cronk on Tuesday saying Slater is still suffering headaches and doesn't remember much from last weekend.
Meanwhile, senior review official Bernard Sutton has taken the bullet for failing to send off Soliola for the sickening hit.
Sutton advised on-field referee Matt Cecchin not to give Soliola his marching orders and will now drop back to the role of regular bunker reviewer, and will have all his major decisions overseen by senior official Luke Patten.
"The officials who were ultimately responsible for the decision, given it occurred in backplay, were the senior review official and the assist referee," referees boss Tony Archer said.
"As a result, Bernie Sutton will not be a senior review official in round 21, and Chris Butler will officiate in Queensland Cup.
"It is my expectation that the assist referee firstly identifies incidents in backplay, while the senior review official should have taken stronger action due to the serious nature of this incident."
withAAP