Not so Api days: Wests Tigers hooker Api Koroisau facing three-match ban for hip-drop tackle
Api Koroisau’s State of Origin hopes have taken a huge hit after the inspirational Wests Tigers dummy-half was handed a hefty ban.
Api Koroisau’s hopes of a State of Origin recall have suffered a significant blow.
The Wests Tigers co-captain faces three weeks on the sidelines after he was charged by the match review committee for a hip-drop tackle during Thursday’s win over the Raiders.
Koroisau was sent to the sin bin for the tackle in the 25th minute on Canberra forward Noah Martin, who played through the pain but was eventually forced off early in the second half and didn’t return.
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It’s a cruel blow for the resurgent Tigers given their dynamic dummy-half has played a key role in their rapid rise under coach Benji Marshall this season.
The Tigers are level with Penrith at the top of the table following Thursday’s win.
Koroisau will miss matches against the Sharks, Storm and Sea Eagles, with the ban coming at the worst possible time for his State of Origin hopes, with the Blues team for the opener on May 27 to be named two days after the Manly clash.
He has played four games for the Blues and last represented his state in the 2023 series opener.
Marshall took aim at the officiating after the match, questioning what his star player was supposed to do in that situation.
“Yeah, look, it’s probably not a good time, but who cares?” Marshall said.
“The inconsistency of the referees is annoying me at the moment to be honest. I know we won but some of the calls … it’s hard to understand.
“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.
“There are 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.”
Tristan Hope is one of the leading options to replace Koroisau, while Jock Madden could shift to the hooking role on the back of his brilliant form while filling in for Jarome Luai in the halves.
Fonua Pole and Corey Horsburgh were offered fines for grade 1 offences out of that match.
Originally published as Not so Api days: Wests Tigers hooker Api Koroisau facing three-match ban for hip-drop tackle
