Brisbane Broncos lock Patrick Carrigan has been hit with a four-week ban for an illegal hip drop tackle that left Wests Tigers playmaker Jackson Hastings with a season-ending fibula fracture and syndesmosis injury in Brisbane’s 32-18 loss on Saturday night.
The 24-year-old pleaded guilty to dangerous contact after he was referred straight the judiciary where it took an 85-minute hearing to determine a four-week ban.
There are fears Hastings could be sidelined for up to five months which would rule him out of England’s World Cup campaign in October.
Carrigan is set for a Round 25 return against St. George Illawarra at Kogarah, however, the four weeks Brisbane will be without him loom as an influential period for the club.
Kobe Hetherington will slide into lock in Carrigan’s absence for this Thursday night’s clash against the Roosters at the SCG with Rhys Kennedy coming onto the bench.
The last time the two sides ran into each other at the SCG, three separate players were sent to the sin bin including Victor Radley on two occasions as Brisbane came away with an upset 34-16 victory.
The Broncos currently sit fifth on the ladder with 12 wins from 19 games and trail the fourth-place Melbourne Storm only on for-and-against.
With clashes against the Roosters, Knights, Storm, Eels and Dragons still to come, the Broncos will be desperate to climb back ahead of Melbourne and earn themselves a spot in the top four.
Only two sides have won a premiership from outside the top four in the NRL’s 113-year history.
Carrigan has enjoyed a breakout year under Walters this season; in 59.1 minutes per game, the Easts Tigers junior is averaging 14.2 runs per game for 127.6 metres and 28.2 tackles.
He also made his State of Origin debut in Queensland’s 2-1 series victory and was awarded the Wally Lewis Medal for player of the series.
