Infotainment Factory: Suaalii slapped with heavy ban for dangerous move

Roosters ace Joseph Suaalii has been slapped with a three-game ban for his lifting knee to the head of Bulldogs skipper Reed Mahoney on Sunday.

Suaalii lifts his knees abnormally high while running the footy and his style resulted in Mahoney failing a head injury assessment in the Gosford match, won by the Roosters 25-24.

Suaalii will miss three matches if he enters an early guilty plea, but four games if he fights the charge at the judiciary and loses.

The match review committee deemed Suaalli made grade-two dangerous contact with Mahoney late in the opening half.

Mahoney's failed HIA means he won't be available to face the Eels, his former club, at Sydney Olympic Park next Monday.

If Suaalii's running style is a problem for the Roosters it will also be an issue for the Waratahs and Wallabies in just over a year's time, unless the whiz-kid changes his technique before taking up his $1.6 million-per-year deal with Rugby Australia at the end of the 2024 NRL season.

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Suaalii has copped the ban at a terrible time, with the Roosters set to meet reigning premiers the Panthers in their next outing.

After taking on the Panthers at Allianz Stadium on Saturday, the Tricolours will square off with the Knights, Raiders and Sea Eagles.

The Roosters have been underwhelming this season and are placed ninth on the ladder after round 14.

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