Rugby League: Five-match ban puts Wiki out of test

New Zealand captain Ruben Wiki is out of Friday night's Anzac league test against Australia after the National Rugby League (NRL) judiciary suspended him last night for five matches.

The Canberra Raiders hard man contested a grade one charge that he recklessly high-tackled Jason Stevens during the match against Cronulla on Saturday night.

A three-man judicial panel cleared Wiki, a 39-test veteran, of that charge, but found him guilty of a grade five careless tackle.

With Wiki having a 100 per cent loading because of two previous judicial convictions for high tackles in the past two years, he was outed for five matches including the Newcastle test.

Wiki, regarded as one of the toughest players and most devasting players in the NRL, will be a big loss to an inexperienced Kiwis line-up in the Newcastle test.

During the week, coach Daniel Anderson described him as a "passionate, emotional leader" who was the "glue" between the senior and younger players.

Wiki told the three-man judicial panel his first contact with Stevens was with Stevens' shoulder.

"I was shocked and disappointed with the charge I got," he said.

Wiki told reporters after the decision he was disappointed with the outcome.

"That's the way it goes. It's disappointing but you just have to move on."

He was asked whether he agreed with Furner's comment about it being a bloody disgrace but replied that the judiciary did a good job.

"I thought we had a good case.... which was presented very well. It's just one of those days."

He said he didn't foresee any change to his tackling style. "I've been doing it for 11 years."

Wiki intends to rejoin the Kiwis camp at Terrigal on the New South Wales Coast for the final two days.

"There's only two days to go and I want to show my support, being one of the senior players.

"I'll show my face around so you'll still see my golliwog."

He said he was confident the Kiwis could cause an upset in the test.

Wiki was represented by Raiders coach Matthew Elliott and former Kangaroos and Raiders coach Don Furner, who told the panel Stevens' head had dropped sharply by 10cm to 15cm in a tackle by another Raiders player just before Wiki made contact.

"The other tackler does push him towards Ruben," he said.

Elliott said the first point of contact was shoulder to shoulder.

Furner said Wiki definitely had a bent arm and was trying to halt Stevens' momentum.

"Stevens was not injured. If Wiki gets four to six weeks for that action it's a bloody disgrace," he told the panel.

The Raiders produced a letter of support from Stevens, the former Kangaroos prop. Stevens said during the week he was not injured by the tackle.

"It would be a shame to see him miss the test because he's the toughest player in the New Zealand team."

- NZPA