Jack Hetherington Staring At A Six Week Ban For This 'Clothesline' Tackle

Victor Radley was sin binned.

Latrell Mitchell went unpunished before copping a grade-two dangerous contact charge.

And Jack Hetherington was sent off immediately.

All three of these incidents were high tackles, but each of them was handled differently by the officials.

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It remains to be seen what punishment the NRL hands down to Radley and Mitchell, but Canterbury Bulldogs forward Hetherington could be slapped with the biggest sanction of them all.

The bulldozing prop now faces up to six weeks on the sideline after he was sent for an early shower by the referee during his side's 30-18 loss at the hands of the North Queensland Cowboys.

With his side chasing the game, Hetherington caught Cowboys star Valentine Holmes pretty high with a wild tackle and the officials wasted no time in sending him from the field.

With Holmes dancing and jinking past Canterbury's defensive line, Hetherington left out a lazy arm in a bid to bring the fullback down.

But unfortunately for Hetherington, Holmes ducked under the tackle at just the wrong time and ended up getting caught by a big sweeping arm.

The Cowboys players took exception to the challenge a little melee broke out on the field.

The referee ended up defusing the heated situation before giving the man at the centre of it all his marching orders.

"It's the old-fashioned coat hanger, it's a Hills hoist from Jack Hetherington," Fox League commentator Andrew Voss said.

"I'm thinking a send-off is the communication of Klein, he's just said is there any reason why I shouldn't? Jack Hetherington might be off the field here."

Bulldogs head coach Trent Barrett came out after the game and defended his player while acknowledging that the shot - which has been since described by some fans as a "clothesline" - was very high.

Fox League

"I didn't think it was intentional, but he obviously caught him high," Barrett said in his post-match press conference.

"It wasn't an intentional shot from Jack he has just hung his arm out there. Val's OK so hopefully we will be OK."

Hetherington is now staring at a five week suspension if he pleads guilty at the NRL judiciary.

If he fights his case and ends up losing, that ban would be extended to six weeks.

Topics: nrl, Australia,

Max Sherry

Max Sherry is a journalist for SPORTbible Australia. After migrating Down Under from London as a teenager, he instantly fell in love with Aussie sport and its culture. From NRL to AFL, cricket to rugby — you name it, Max watches it (with a beer in hand, of course). During his time at Fox Sports, he worked in the football department covering the Premier League, A-League, Socceroos and Matildas. Born a stone's throw away from West Ham's training ground, Max is obviously a die-hard Liverpool fan.

@maxysherry