Canterbury playmaker Brandon Wakeham has been suspended for four weeks for an eye gouge, with damning video evidence surfacing of the incident.
The 23-year-old was referred straight to the judiciary and entered a guilty plea to contrary conduct, for an incident during a NSW Cup game against St George Illawarra on Sunday.
It was midway through the second half, and moments before the Dragons scored another try to take a 34-12 lead at Belmore Sports Ground.
READ MORE: Origin ‘surprise’ clouds ‘loyal’ NSW coach
READ MORE: Ricciardo’s sad decline reaches point of no return
READ MORE: Origin ref rubbishes Bunker ‘myth’
Wakeham helped two Bulldogs teammates tackle opposing star Tyrell Sloan to the ground, before the culprit poked his right index finger into the left eye of the Dragons player.
Play continued but after the Dragons scored their try, Sloan approached the referee to complain about the eye gouge.
The game was halted while Wakeham was placed on report, and the ground manager was called over to take a photo of Sloan’s eye to use as evidence.
The talented Dragons fullback was clearly filthy with Wakeham, who attempted to laugh it off.
Replays on Fox League were “damning” according to commentator Matt Russell.
“That replay is damning,” Russell said during the call.
“He points with his finger, sticks it towards the eye, and then… sort of flamboyantly waves it out of the eye and up the forehead.”
Wakeham has played 25 NRL games in four seasons with the Bulldogs, but has only appeared four times this year in the top grade.
He’ll spend the next month on the sidelines.
For a daily dose of the best of the breaking news and exclusive content from Wide World of Sports, subscribe to our newsletter by clicking here!
Best rugby league players to never appear in State of Origin, including Test reps
For all the latest Sports News Click Here
For the latest news and updates, follow us on Google News.
