7 Apr 2009

Cronulla trio hit with bans after early guilty pleas

5:04 pm on 7 April 2009

Cronulla's tough start to the National Rugby League season looks set to continue with captain Paul Gallen, Misi Taulapapa and Kade Snowden all suspended after taking early guilty pleas to judiciary charges.

Sharks skipper Gallen will miss two games for striking Bulldogs five-eighth Ben Roberts with a forearm in Sunday's 24-12 defeat in Sydney.

Snowden and Taulapapa will miss Saturday's home game against Canberra after making grapple tackles but team-mate Luke Douglas escapes a ban after pleading guilty to use of a swinging arm.

Melbourne halfback Cooper Cronk, Tigers utility Rhys Hanbury and the Titans' Brett Delaney, who were also charged with dangerous contact to the neck and head, escaped a ban after taking early guilty pleas.