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Panthers, Raiders breach decisions loom

3 minute read

Head of football Graham Annesley says the NRL is close to finalising investigations into Penrith, Canberra and Canterbury with decisions expected imminently.

GRAHAM ANNESLEY.
GRAHAM ANNESLEY. Picture: Chris Hyde/Getty Images

Penrith and Canberra are expected to learn on Tuesday whether the NRL will sanction the clubs for separate breaches at their match on Friday night.

Head of football Graham Annesley confirmed on Monday the NRL is finalising investigations into both clubs.

The Panthers have come under scrutiny for potential breaches of NRL and NSW government COVID-19 guidelines on venue capacity at BlueBet Stadium on Friday night.

Only one person per two square metres is permitted on the hill, but instead the club sold out the ground for a 20,890-strong crowd.

Annesley said he wrote to the Panthers on Friday night to ask for an explanation.

Meanwhile, the Raiders are waiting to hear whether a trainer breached operational guidelines during the same match when he interfered during an on-field melee.

Footage showed a trainer place his hands on Panthers players Tyrone May and James Fisher-Harris during the scuffle, which is in breach of the NRL's operational manual.

Trainers are forbidden to approach or become involved in an altercation or melee involving players, and are not to attempt to separate or restrain them.

"I would hope there'd be an outcome on that if not later (on Monday) then certainly by (Tuesday)," Annesley said.

"There are rules for what people on the sideline can and can't do, and that's all in the operations manual, but of course just as I stand here and say that no two incidents on the field are ever the same, no two incidents off the field are ever the same either.

"The reason we can't have a quicker turn around on some of these things is that they often require a bit deeper investigation than just what you can see on the video."

It's understood the NRL is also close to finalising an investigation into Canterbury's handling of Lachlan Lewis's concussion in the match against South Sydney in round four.

The young five-eighth was not taken from the field straight away and played another set after he was clearly concussed and stumbled to his feet in a tackle.

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