Fiery Broncos-Roosters Clash Sees Four Players Charged Amid NRL High Tackle Crackdown

Round 5 of the NRL saw a heated encounter between the Brisbane Broncos and Sydney Roosters turn chaotic, with four players facing judiciary charges following a spiteful clash. In a game dominated by controversy and physicality, the league’s ongoing high tackle crackdown once again took centre stage.

Roosters centre Billy Smith and Broncos back-rower Jack Gosiewski were both sent off within the first 40 minutes for separate high shots. Smith was the first to feel the wrath of referee Peter Gough after a dangerous hit on Broncos fullback Reece Walsh. The 25-year-old caught Walsh flush on the chin as he slipped into contact, then compounded the offence by driving his shoulder into the grounded fullback in what was described as a “flop.” Despite Roosters captain James Tedesco’s protests that Smith bounced off the ball, Gough was firm in his ruling, declaring the contact “unacceptable.”

Moments later, Gosiewski was also marched for a belatedly identified hit on Roosters enforcer Victor Radley. The incident wasn’t picked up immediately, but after review, Gough called the Brisbane forward out and sin-binned him for the reckless contact. Fox League commentator Dan Ginnane summed it up: “The shot on Radley is the problem… he got it wrong.”

Both Smith and Gosiewski have been handed one-match suspensions, which could double if they contest the charges and fail. The repercussions didn’t end there—Roosters forward Angus Crichton was cited for dangerous contact but escaped suspension, receiving only a fine. Broncos centre Kotoni Staggs was also fined for an elbow to the head of Roosters playmaker Sandon Smith.

In total, six players were sent to the sin bin in Round 5 for high tackles, underlining the NRL’s zero-tolerance policy. Meanwhile, Titans forward Brock Gray will miss a match for a high tackle on Jack De Belin during the Gold Coast’s loss to the Dragons, adding to a dramatic round where discipline was in short supply.