The NRL season of Kiwis and Canberra Raiders outside back Sebastian Kris has come to an abrupt end following an ugly spear tackle.
Kris was sent off by referee Grant Atkins in the 60th minute of the Sharks’ 24-6 victory over the Raiders on Sunday for an ugly spear tackle on his opposite winger Sione Katoa.
The NRL match review committee slapped Kris with a grade 3 dangerous contact charge that carries a five-game ban with an early guilty plea, or six games if he was to fight the charge at the judiciary and be found guilty.
Canberra Raiders confirmed on Monday that Kris would accept the early guilty plea, meaning he will miss Sunday’s elimination final against the Knights and any subsequent finals games should the Raiders win this weekend.
With the Kiwis due to play as many as three tests later this year, Kris seems destined to be ruled out of that campaign too, and will potentially miss Raiders games in 2024. He was part of the Kiwis’ World Cup squad last year.
Katoa was not injured in the tackle.