Aug 24th, 2016

Aug 24th, 2016

Three Penrith Panthers under-20s players are facing a long stint on the sideline for a spear tackle that saw West Tigers youngster Daniel Roberts carried from the field on a stretcher.

Jarome Luai and Reed Izzard are each facing six weeks out, while Jack Hetherington, is facing three weeks in the stands.

During the Friday night match the Penrith players upended the charging Roberts and dumped him on his head and drove him into the ground.

The tackle bent the Tiger's neck in a way not too dissimilar to the tackle that broke the neck of former Newcastle Knight Alex McKinnon.

Luai was charged with a grade-three dangerous throw. Izzard and Hetherington were hit with grade-two charges.

The match review committee has clearly hit the three boys hard in an effort to scrub dangerous play out of the game.

Fox Sports reported that while Roberts was stretchered from the field, it was understood the youngster hasn't suffered any long-term damage.