THE Dragons have been dealt a tough double blow by the match review committee with back-rowers Tyson Frizell and Joel Thompson both hit with charges following Friday’s 13-10 loss to the Bulldogs.
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The imposing pair were back in their familiar edge positions for the clash with Canterbury but coach Paul McGregor could be without both players for Thursday’s crunch clash with Brisbane.
Frizell has been hit with a grade one contrary conduct charge for coming in contact with assistant referee Chris James in the fourth minute of Friday’s match and faces a week on the sideline.
He will miss a week with or without fighting the charge and with the Dragons season at a critical juncture the club may well choose to fight the charge at the judiciary.
Thompson, who’s already been suspended twice this season, has been slugged with a grade one careless high tackle charge for his 50th minute hit on Bulldogs forward Josh Jackson that was not penalised on field.
Thompson would ordinarily have escaped suspension with an early guilty plea but a 50 per cent loading for previous offences and 29 carryover points from a guilty plea to a similar charge earlier this year sees him facing a week on the sideline.
Josh Reynolds was also hit with a grade one tripping charge out of the same game after tangling with Thompson in the 15th minute, denying the Dragons hard-man a try.
With forward depth already tested by injury, the Dragons can ill-afford to lose either man for the clash with Brisbane at WIN Stadium on Thursday.