Rugby League

NRLW great referred to judiciary over ugly tackle

By George Clarke

Aug 3, 2026

Ali Brigginshaw is staring at a lengthy suspension in her final NRLW season after the Brisbane star was referred straight to the NRL judiciary.

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The veteran playmaker was charged with a grade three dangerous contact charge on Monday after she was sin binned in the Broncos' 34-4 Magic Round win over Canterbury in Wagga Wagga on Sunday.

Brigginshaw lifted Tayla Preston above the horizontal and dumped the Bulldogs halfback head first into the turf.

Andrew Johns likened Brigginshaw's tackle to a WWE wrestling move in commentary for the Nine Network and suggested the Broncos star was fortunate to not be sent off.

The 36-year-old Brigginshaw is expected to front the NRL judiciary on Tuesday and is at risk of missing a Broncos NRLW game for the first time since the competition's inception in 2018.

Reigning premiers Brisbane, who sit first with a 5-0 record, face Canberra this week before a grand final rematch with the Sydney Roosters and then take on the Gold Coast in a Queensland derby.

NRLW players are often handed suspensions that are proportionate to the competition's 11-match regular season length, rather than those dished out in the 24-game NRL.

Brigginshaw, who is set to retire at the end of this season, was not the only player to be left facing a suspension following Sunday's games.

Newcastle forward Tayla Predebon is looking at a two-game ban for a careless high tackle on Parramatta's Martha Mataele.