Finucane faces three-match ban for NRL hit

Cronulla forward Dale Finucane could miss as many as three NRL games for making dangerous contact with Stephen Crichton, despite escaping on-field sanction for his hit on the Penrith centre.

In the 72nd minute of the Panthers’ 20-10 win, Finucane contacted Crichton’s head as he attempted a tackle, leaving Crichton concussed and unable to finish the game.

Finucane’s arm swung out but closer inspection appeared to show Crichton had been hit by the lock forward’s head, rather than his arm or shoulder.

Finucane was neither penalised on-field nor sin-binned but the match review committee charged him with grade three dangerous contact – the worst category applicable – on Sunday morning.

He will miss two matches if he takes an early guilty plea but risks sitting three out by taking his case to the NRL judiciary.

The Sharks face South Sydney, St George Illawarra and Wests Tigers in their next three games.

Panthers coach Ivan Cleary said it was “weird” referee Ashley Klein chose not to penalise Finucane on-field.

“I guess historically a head clash has been a head clash,” he said.

“I just kind of think that for how easy it is to give a high tackle penalty away now for contact with the head, it just looked bad.

“I am not exactly sure of interpretations but that is clearly contact with the head. It knocks him out. It is just weird that that is OK but the mildest of taps, sometimes, is not OK.”

Penrith second-rower Viliame Kikau meanwhile, has been fined $1500 for a shoulder charge on Cronulla winger Connor Tracey.

Elsewhere, Melbourne’s Nelson Asofa-Solomona was charged twice for hits on South Sydney captain Cameron Murray during the Rabbitohs’ win on Saturday night.

Asofa-Solomona can escape suspension by accepting a $3000 fine for each hit but could miss a combined total of four matches if he unsuccessfully challenges his charges at the judiciary.