Newcastle forward Jack Hetherington is set to be handed a one-game suspension after a tunnel altercation with Canterbury hooker Reed Mahoney.
Hetherington and Mahoney were both sent to the sinbin in the dying moments of the Bulldogs’ heated 36-12 NRL win on Sunday.
But tensions carried into the tunnel with Hetherington waiting for the Bulldogs No. 9, where he stood bouncing on his feet like a boxer shaping to throw a punch.
Hetherington then appeared to push Mahoney in the chest before the duo were pulled apart by NRL officials.
“When you watch this vision, both of them were in a heated argument on the field,” Corey Parker said of the incident.
“The referee was going to leave them on the field. He then opted to send them for 10 in the bin and then we see the footage. It is hard to see whether Hetherington is joking. He has got a smile on his face, but well and truly pushes Reed.
“Reed was not real sure what to do. He was shaping up. He was bouncing. I don’t know if they are good mates or not.”
Braithe Anasta was left with no doubt about whether or not it was serious.
“I don’t think they are (joking),” Anasta replied.
“I know Jack quite well and although he may look like he is geeing up I don’t think he is. I think he is serious.”
The Knights prop was handed a grade-two contrary conduct charge on Monday and can take a one-game suspension with an early guilty plea.
Mahoney can escape with a $1000 fine after being handed a grade-one charge for the same offence.
Hetherington’s suspension could not come at a worse time for the Knights, who have won just two games to start the season, are languishing in 15th spot and face the Dolphins on Sunday.
Adam O’Brien’s men also look set to be without captain Kalyn Ponga for the foreseeable future due to a foot injury as they struggle to recapture the form that spurred them to last year’s finals series.
“We’re playing like a frustrated team,” O’Brien said on Sunday.
“We’re not enjoying it at the moment because the expectation is that we played well last year.
“We’ve got to get back to find our love of the game.”
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