Wests Tigers skipper Api Koroisau banned as horror trend continues in Spoon Bowl shocker
Updated . First published
Wests Tigers skipper Apisai Koroisau has been handed a three-match ban for his grade-two dangerous tackle in his side's massive 60-26 Spoon Bowl loss to the Eels.
The horror tackle on Eels fullback Clint Gutherson saw him land square on his shoulder and topped off a miserable night for the Tigers.
During the 51st minute of the clash, Koroisau was put on report and sent to the sin bin for the act.
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If he challenges the charge he faces four games on the sidelines.
The charge could see Koroisau miss time for Fiji in the upcoming Pacfic Championships.
Api Koroisau was sent to the sin bin for this tackle on Clint Gutherson. FOX Sports
It comes as Reagan Campbell-Gillard's rumoured move to the Dragons looks to have been confirmed.
After Joey Lussick scored Parramatta's 11th and final try, it was Campbell-Gillard who took the conversion - a sure sign he's played his final match as an Eel.
The Eels emphatically dodged the wooden spoon, relegating the Tigers to the dishonour for the third straight season.
The Eels' Reagan Campbell-Gillard is tackled. Jeremy Ng via Getty Images
The massive loss also continued an ugly trend for the Tigers, who have conceded 50 points in their final match of the season in each of these last three seasons.
"An ordinary end to an ordinary season for the Wests Tigers," Cooper Cronk quipped in commentary for Fox Sports.
Arguably the most hyped regular season fixture of the season, the Spoon Bowl was a scrappy affair with both sides showing plenty of examples of why they were sitting 16th and 17th on the ladder.
Both sides had burnt their captain's challenge by the 17th minute with poor challenges, and both gifted easy field positions through basic handling errors.
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The Eels were first to open the scoring before the Tigers went back-to-back to take the lead.
But the Eels scored three in a row to take a healthy 22-10 lead into half time.
If coach Benji Marshall ordered a fast start to the second half, he got one. But it was delivered to the wrong room.
In just the second minute after play resumed, Latu Fainu tried to throw a no-looker to Lachy Galvin, but gave it straight to Bryce Cartwright.
He ran away towards the Eels' line before dishing off to Will Penisini to score.
Apisai Koroisau of the Wests Tigers is sent to the sin bin against the Eels. Jeremy Ng via Getty Images
Leading as the most sin-binned team in the competition, the Tigers skipper was sin binned after halftime.
It opened the floodgates for the Eels, who scored three tries with Koroisau off the field.
It was the third time this season that the Tigers conceded 50 points.
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