Cronulla’s spine is facing a further potential shake up with Will Kennedy facing a bizarre ban for colliding with referee Adam Gee.
Kennedy was on Saturday slapped with a grade-two contrary conduct charge, after running into Gee while looming up in support play early in the big win over Wests Tigers.
After Kayal Iro made a break down field, Kennedy attempted to sprint up in support play before being obstructed by Gee after the referee stopped on the spot.
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The incident went without any penalty on the field, but the match review committee came down hard on Kennedy on Saturday morning.
The charge is the fourth this season for a player making contact with a referee, after Sydney Roosters pair Siua Wong and Luke Keary both copped fines.
Jahrome Hughes also copped a one-match ban for pushing over referee Chris Butler in March, as he scurried to make a try-saving tackle.
Kennedy’s contact was by far the most forceful, knocking over Gee, but a question remains over whether it was intentional or just merely accidental.
Kennedy will miss Cronulla’s round-21 clash with North Queensland if he accepts the ban, and would risk a second game out if he fights it at the judiciary and loses.
Any suspension would cause headaches for the Sharks, who are already without halfback Nicho Hynes.
Daniel Atkinson would ordinarily be the most likely to move to fullback, but he’s currently playing in the halves in place of Hynes.
Kade Dykes would have been another option, but he’s out for the remainder of the year after undergoing knee surgery.
Teenager Liam Ison could be drafted into the No.1 jersey, unless centre Iro moves to the back and Siosifa Talakai returns to the centres.