Wests Tigers co-captain Api Koroisau is facing a potential suspension after being sin-binned and placed on report during Thursday's 33-14 victory over Canberra at Leichhardt Oval. The hooker was penalised for a possible hip-drop tackle and a dangerous throw, incidents that could jeopardise his chances of a NSW State of Origin recall.
Koroisau has been cited three times this season for dangerous contact and may face a ban if charged by the NRL match review committee. The Raiders scored both their tries while Koroisau was off the field, but the Tigers held on for their fifth win of the season.
Coach Benji Marshall launched a scathing attack on the standard of officiating after the game. 'The inconsistency of the referees is annoying me at the moment to be honest,' he said. 'In Api's case with the sin-bin, I don't know what he's supposed to do in that situation. He's making a cover tackle from behind, of course he's going to land on his legs.'
Marshall also criticised the decision to award a penalty for a dangerous throw on Raiders forward Zac Hosking, claiming he would have challenged it if he had been on the field. 'There's heaps of things that didn't go our way, I just think the fans deserve some consistency around the interpretations of the rules - and we're not getting it,' he added.
Halfback Adam Doueihi starred for the Tigers with two tries, four goals and a field goal, pushing his case for NSW selection. Blues great Andrew Johns has endorsed Doueihi due to his versatility, and Marshall agreed, calling it 'his best game, impact wise, positioning, and where he played in the team.'
The Tigers next face Cronulla and Melbourne, while the Raiders, last year's minor premiers, have won only three games this season and appear a shadow of their former selves.
