Koroisau’s State of Origin Hopes Under Threat
The hopes of Api Koroisau for a return to the State of Origin series have been significantly dimmed after the Wests Tigers hooker accepted a three-match ban for his hip-drop tackle on Noah Martin. The incident occurred during the Tigers’ 33-14 victory over Canberra, and it has now led to serious consequences for Koroisau.
The Tigers spent the weekend considering whether to challenge the grade-two dangerous contact charge that Koroisau received. A downgrade could have allowed him to avoid suspension with a $3000 fine. However, the third-placed Tigers chose to take a cautious approach, entering an early guilty plea on Monday. This decision means Koroisau will not play again before the Origin series opener on May 27, missing crucial matches against Cronulla, Melbourne, and Manly in the process.
Koroisau’s situation is further complicated by previous offences. Fighting the charge would have risked adding another week to his suspension, which had already been increased due to prior incidents. If he hadn’t been charged three times this year, Koroisau could have faced a one-game ban as a first offence. Now, with the three-match suspension, his chances of being selected for the Blues are looking increasingly uncertain.
The 33-year-old had been in contention for a first NSW cap since 2023, thanks to his strong performances for a much-improved Tigers team. However, the lack of game time over the next month might push Blues coach Laurie Daley to consider other options, such as Blayke Brailey or Reece Robson, for the starting hooker position.
Reece Robson has been in excellent form for the Sydney Roosters, most recently helping the Tricolours secure a 62-16 win against St George Illawarra on Anzac Day. His consistent performance has made him a strong contender for the hooker role.
Meanwhile, Tristan Hope was pulled from Saturday’s NSW Cup clash between Western Suburbs and Canberra and is likely to start as the Tigers’ hooker against the Sharks. This change highlights the challenges the Tigers face in maintaining their lineup amid injuries and suspensions.
Despite the Tigers’ decision to accept the sanction, head coach Benji Marshall expressed frustration over the referee’s decision to sin-bin Koroisau during the match. “I don’t know what he’s supposed to do in that situation,” Marshall said. “He’s making a cover tackle from behind, of course he’s going to land on (Martin’s) legs. 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.”
In other developments, Parramatta hooker Tallyn Da Silva escaped suspension for the dangerous throw that saw him sin-binned during Sunday’s loss to Manly. The Eels, who are already dealing with a heavily depleted squad, welcomed the news. Da Silva can accept a $1000 fine as an early plea for up-ending Jake Simpkin, providing some relief for the team as they look to recover from recent setbacks.
This series of events underscores the challenges faced by players and teams in navigating the complex rules of the sport while maintaining their competitive edge. As the season progresses, the decisions made by clubs and officials will continue to shape the fortunes of players like Koroisau and Da Silva.
