Cronulla winger Ronaldo Mulitalo is at risk of missing his side’s NRL elimination final against Manly after being cited for a shoulder charge.
Mulitalo was booked for a first-half hit on Luke Brooks in Sunday’s win over Wests Tigers that was not penalised, and faces at least one match on the sideline.
On another busy day for the league’s match review committee, Kangaroos prop David Klemmer was also charged for abusing an NRL official.
The Newcastle forward was cited for the offence, as he attempted to leave the field to be interchanged late in the Knights’ 54-10 flogging at the hands of Penrith.
He will avoid suspension but be fined a maximum of $1500 over the offence, which can be reduced to $1150 with an early guilty plea.
But it’s the ban that looms over Mulitalo that could have the biggest influence on the finals.
The rookie winger has scored three tries, made four linebreaks and busted 22 tackles in the past three weeks alone for the Sharks.
He will risk missing a second match if he fights the charge at the judiciary, which came after he floored Brooks as the Tigers broke free from a 20m tap.
His absence could be offset if Matt Moylan returns to the Sharks side at fullback, allowing Josh Dugan to return to the wing in Mulitalo’s place.
However Moylan is still considered unlikely to line up on Saturday after suffering hamstring tightness, meaning Sione Katoa or Aaron Gray would shape as Mulitalo’s likely replacement.