League: Betham faces weeks out in dangerous-throw case

New Zealand Warrior Monty Betham faces more than a month on the sidelines after being charged yesterday with a dangerous throw in his side's NRL loss to Wests Tigers.

Team-mate Tevita Latu has also been charged, for a careless high tackle that has been given a grading of five - the highest on the NRL judiciary's scale.

The incident involving Betham and opposition prop Todd Payten came in the 67th minute of a match the Warriors lost 24-6 in Christchurch on Saturday night.

Betham will miss six weeks, putting him out of consideration for next week's Anzac test, if he enters an early plea to his grade-three charge.

The lock will be out for eight weeks if he defends himself and loses.

Betham has been before the judiciary three other times in the past two years and his disciplinary record is reflected in the sentences he faces.

Latu's tackle on second-rower Anthony Laffranchi came in the 60th minute.

The hooker will be banned for two weeks if he makes an early guilty plea, and three weeks if he fights the charge and loses.

The Warriors already have prop Ruben Wiki out for this Sunday's away match against Newcastle.

Wiki, the Kiwi skipper, is finishing a four-week suspension for a careless high tackle in the Warriors' round-two win over Brisbane, and will be eligible for selection against the Kangaroos.

- NZPA