Ugly hits leave gun Eels trio dreading finals bans

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The Eels are sweating connected the availability of 3 cardinal players for a knockout semi-final clash with the Panthers, aft they were reported for foul play successful Parramatta's gripping 28-20 elimination last triumph implicit Newcastle.

Parramatta's triumph has acceptable up a do-or-die duel with occidental Sydney rivals Penrith successful Mackay adjacent Saturday night, but the Eels could beryllium without prop Junior Paulo, second-rower Marata Niukore and centre Waqa Blake.

Niukore was reported for a precocious changeable connected Knights inferior Connor Watson successful the 23rd minute, which led rugby league large Brad Fittler to condemn the tackle.

"There was nary request for that," Fittler said connected Nine's coverage.

"The shot had gone early. Placed connected study ... He's down the defence line, the shot is good and genuinely gone. That's senseless."

While the incidental involving Blake appeared innocuous, the speedster was reported for a imaginable precocious changeable connected Knights back-rower Tyson Frizell 34 minutes into the contest.

Rugby league fable Peter Sterling couldn't find immoderate responsibility successful the tackle.

"I don't spot what's incorrect with that," Sterling said.

However, Sterling suggested Paulo could beryllium successful occupation for a enarthrosis complaint that collected Knights centre Kurt Mann precocious successful the 57th minute.

"The players cognize what the regularisation is," Sterling said.

"You've got to marque definite that your limb is distant from your body, nary substance what's successful beforehand of you. I recognize determination wasn't overmuch of a people country ... but you conscionable can't instrumentality the hazard with it."

The Rockhampton fixture besides saw Newcastle fastener Sauaso Sue reported for twisting the close limb of Parramatta winger Blake Ferguson during the 17th minute.

As teammates Daniel Saifiti and Jayden Brailey wrapped up the apical fractional of Ferguson's body, Sue thudded into his bottommost fractional and twisted his close limb arsenic the seasoned flyer crashed to the turf.

While Ferguson played done conscionable astir the remainder of the lucifer and scored a double, the erstwhile NSW and Test prima instantly began mouthing disconnected arsenic Sue twisted his leg.

"That's an unsightly tackle due to the fact that your joints are lone meant to determination truthful galore antithetic ways," Sterling said.

"The 1 limb twist tin bash immoderate damage: (to the) leg, ankle, anywhere."

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