Panthers dealt finals blow after Cogger slapped with hefty ban
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The Panthers′ finals campaign has been dealt a blow after Jack Cogger was offered a three-game suspension for a high shot on Tyran Wishart.
On the hour mark of Penrith’s 22-14 win over the Storm in Melbourne on Thursday night, Cogger rushed out of the line to land the hit, but got it all wrong. His shoulder connected firmly with Wishart’s head.
Jack Cogger was offered a three-week suspension for this hit on Tyran Wishart. Nine
Knowing he’d botched it, Cogger raised his hands to apologise before he’d even got back to his feet. He walked away with his head in his hands.
“I don’t like that,” referee Grant Atkins could be heard saying, before promptly putting him on report and marching him to the sin bin.
Cogger was the third Panther binned for the night, and the fourth of the game.
On Friday morning, Cogger was hit with a grade two careless high tackle charge. He’ll serve a fourth week if the Panthers elect to fight the charge and lose.
Cogger also copped a $3000 fine for a hip drop on Angus Hinchey only minutes earlier that went unpunished in live play. For that, he earned a grade one dangerous contact charge.
Cogger was brought into the team at the expense of Blaize Talagi three weeks ago to fix defensive issues.
A three-week ban would have Cogger out until at least the semi-finals, or a prelim if the Panthers win in week one. They are potentially facing a trip to New Zealand in week one of the finals.
Josh King copped the only other charge from the opening clash of round 25. His pocket will be $1000 lighter for a hip drop on Moses Leota that bizarrely went unpunished, despite a stoppage in play while Leota was seen to by a trainer.
The Panthers will end their regular season with two home games against the Bulldogs and then the Tigers.
