'It was disgraceful': Newcastle coach slams Western 'tactics'

Before bidding for a NSW Country Championships title three-peat this weekend, Newcastle Rugby League general manager Adam Devich and Rebels coach Garth Brennan stood behind the state governing body's judiciary rulings.

Western representative players Billy Carberry and Dylan Kelly were both banned for eight matches, having each been found guilty of eye-gouging different Newcastle opponents in Sunday's semi-final at Cessnock Sportsground.

Devich described it as a "thorough and measured job" while Brennan gave "credit to NSW Rugby League for coming down hard" and believes the Rams duo have now "paid the price".

Carberry was sent off following a second-half incident while tackling Rebels fullback Cameron Anderson. Kelly was later reported for an earlier run-in with Rebels centre Matt Soper-Lawler.

The Western pair were formally charged by the NSWRL match review committee before fronting a judiciary panel on Wednesday night.

"I think NSW Rugby League did a thorough and measured job dealing with all of the incidents in what was a difficult game to handle," Devich told the Newcastle Herald.

"I think the referees also handled the game well considering the circumstances."

Carberry will end up spending a total of 10 games on the sidelines having also been charged with a grade-two dangerous throw.

His tackle on Soper-Lawler, which occurred early in the second half of Newcastle's 20-0 victory and saw Carberry spend 10 minutes in the sin bin, sparked a melee with Kelly's initial eye gouge not picked up during the men's knockout semi.

In addition, Western's Jack Buchanan copped a one-match suspension after entering an early guilty plea for contrary conduct while teammate Camden Sutton escaped with a warning for his careless high tackle.

"I'm really disappointed by the tactics used by Western division and I think it shone a bad light on country rugby league," Brennan said.

"I just thought it was disgraceful. I honestly thought I was in a time warp and woke up in the 70s and 80s.

"I was expecting to see Tommy Raudonikis and Dallas Donnelly out there, that's how bad it was at times.

"It's not how rugby league needs to be this day in age, those days have gone. The game is hard and tough enough as it is.

"Players shouldn't have to go onto the football field worrying about whether or not they're getting an eye gouge.

"Credit to NSW Rugby League for coming down hard on them and they've paid the price - cost themselves any chance of getting into a country championships final and hurt the club teams they go back to because of lengthy suspensions."

Newcastle second-rower Ethan Campbell now misses Saturday's decider against Northern Rivers in Canberra, banned for one game in the wake of a careless high tackle charge from the same semi. He took an early guilty plea this week.

Lachlan Williams gets promoted onto that edge, NSW Country representative James Taylor returns in the front-row after being unavailable last weekend while Justin Afflick drops back to the bench.

The Rebels backline remains unchanged and Will Nieuwenhuise is the 18^th man.

Newcastle, two-time defending champions, were due to hold a captain's run at Knights headquarters on Friday morning before catching a bus down to the nation's capital for an overnight stay.

Northern Rivers arrive on the back of posting 50 points in lead-up wins over Monaro (56-12) and Northern Tigers (58-16).

Kick-off at GIO Stadium is 3pm.

REBELS: Cameron Anderson, James Bradley, Matt Soper-Lawler, Logan Radzievic, Timanu Alexander, Chad O'Donnell (c), Isaiah Olsen, Jake Goodwin, Liam Wilkinson, James Taylor, Lachlan Williams, Liam Wiscombe, Lachlan O'Brien, Matthew Moon, Luke Higgins, Justin Afflick, Reeve Howard, Will Niewenhuise.