Brisbane Broncos star Patrick Carrigan has been banned for one match following a dangerous high tackle during the team’s hard-fought finals win over the Raiders.
The tackle, which occurred late in the second half, drew immediate attention from the match officials and was reviewed by the NRL judiciary. On Monday, Carrigan was handed a one-game suspension — ruling him out of the preliminary final, and potentially derailing the Broncos’ run toward a premiership title.
Carrigan, a key enforcer in the Broncos’ forward pack and a recent State of Origin standout, has been one of the team’s most consistent performers all season. His absence will be felt deeply in the Broncos’ lineup.
Broncos coach Kevin Walters said the club is disappointed with the outcome but will not contest the charge.
> “It’s tough losing Patty at this stage of the season, but we’ve got full faith in our squad,” Walters said.
Fans online are already expressing concern, with many calling the suspension “soft” and questioning the consistency of the NRL’s judiciary decisions — especially after Reece Walsh escaped suspension earlier in the week for a separate striking incident.
The Broncos will face either the Storm or the Panthers in the next round — and without Carrigan’s grit in the middle, their road to the Grand Final just got a whole lot tougher.
