PAPUA New Guinea prop Makali Aizue is set to be rubbed out of next weekend's World Cup clash with Australia and could face suspension from 2009 Super League games after two grapple tackles in Saturday night's loss to New Zealand.
Aizue, who plays for Hull KR, was penalised by English referee Steve Ganson for a grapple tackle on Kiwis and South Sydney hooker Issac Luke late in the match, but match officials stunned the New Zealand camp when they failed to take action over a more serious incident in the opening minute that left Sam Perrett lying motionless.
Replays clearly showed Aizue wrapping his arm around Perrett's neck and twisting it in just the second tackle of the match.
Perrett recovered to score two tries in the Kiwis' 48-6 win but the Sydney Roosters winger was nursing a sore neck afterwards.
New Zealand coach Stephen Kearney ruled out making an official complaint but both incidents will be studied today by the match review committee. Aizue faces two possible contrary conduct charges that would sideline him from the clash with the Kangaroos in Townsville next Sunday that is expected to be the Kumuls' last of the tournament.
Any outstanding suspensions after the World Cup will be served in the player's domestic competition, meaning Aizue would miss matches for Hull KR next season if he received a ban exceeding one game.
The match review committee will also compare a high tackle by Samoan prop Kylie Leuluai during Friday night's 20-12 defeat of Tonga with the one that cost Kiwis and Manly centre Steve Matai a one-game suspension when he collected Australian lock Paul Gallen the previous weekend.
After being sent a warning letter by the match review committee over a lifting tackle in his side's opening game against Ireland last week, Tonga centre Etuate Uaisele, will again come under scrutiny for a similar offence in the loss to Samoa.
Fiji are favourites to finish top of their pool after thrashing France 42-6 in an impressive performance at WIN Stadium on Saturday night highlighted by the return to form of Parramatta fullback Jarryd Hayne, a strong game by Brisbane forward Ashton Sims and three stunning tries by Newcastle speedster Akuila Uate.
The Bati play Scotland in Gosford on Wednesday night, and with Samoa to clash with Ireland at Parramatta Stadium just two hours earlier, the two teams contesting the play-off for the last semi-final spot at Skilled Park next Monday night will be known.
The play-off game coincides with a court appearance in Rockhampton by Samoan hooker David Faiumu on an assault charge.
Meanwhile, star Kiwis playmaker Benji Marshall has allayed fears about his hamstring injury and insists he will be fit for Saturday's match against England in Newcastle.
Marshall sat out the second half of the Kiwis' win over Papua New Guinea on the Gold Coast after feeling tightness in the hamstring late in the first spell.
After playing a hand in three of the Kiwis' first four tries, Marshall was warming to his task and wanted to play on, but coaches Kearney and Wayne Bennett both overruled him, keen to protect their most prized asset.
"I'll be sweet," Marshall said. "I pulled up well and I iced it up, I'm feeling pretty good. I was just spewing I couldn't go back on. I said to both the coaches I wanted to go back on but they said it might be better if I stayed off, so it was their call in the end."
Scotland winger Lee Paterson is the latest player ruled out of the tournament after suffering a knee injury in the 36-18 loss to France in Canberra on October 26.
with NZPA
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