Melbourne’s march into another grand final has come at a cost, with second-rower Trent Loiero hit with a grade one dangerous contact charge for his late tackle on Nicho Hynes in Friday’s preliminary final.
The incident, which unfolded just after Hynes released a kick, saw the Cronulla playmaker floored and left wincing as the crowd gasped at the impact.
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While the Sharks captain played on, the judiciary was never likely to let the clash pass unnoticed.
A costly collision
The charge means Loiero will be fined rather than suspended if he takes the early plea, though a challenge at the panel could risk a sterner outcome. For Melbourne, who dismantled the Sharks to book a place in the decider, the case is an unwanted distraction in a week meant to be about silverware.
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Hynes, meanwhile, brushed off the incident post-match, but his influence was clearly blunted as Cronulla’s attack faltered. “It’s footy, you get whacked sometimes. I’ll pull up fine,” he told reporters, refusing to blame the collision for the defeat.
The Storm now await confirmation of Loiero’s fate as they prepare for their tilt at the premiership. For coach Craig Bellamy, it is one more delicate piece to juggle in the final days before the season’s ultimate test.