Broncos prop Patrick Carrigan handed four-week suspension by NRL judiciary over dangerous tackle

Broncos prop Patrick Carrigan has been suspended for four matches for his part in a tackle that broke the ankle of Wests Tigers lock Jackson Hastings.

The decision came after a 90-minute hearing by the NRL judiciary on Tuesday night.

It means the Broncos will be without Carrigan until the last week of the regular competition.

But it means Carrigan will be free to play assuming the Broncos make the finals.

Brisbane is currently fifth on the NRL ladder.

Carrigan had pleaded guilty to a dangerous contact charge for an incident in the 73rd minute of Brisbane’s shock 32-18 loss to the Tigers last Saturday night.

Hastings was bent back over Carrigan, with his ankle twisting underneath.

The Tigers lock was in immediate distress and pain and hobbled from the field with the help of trainers.

Scans later confirmed Hastings had suffered a broken ankle and will require surgery — ending his NRL season.

He took to Twitter following the injury.

“My main focus right now is to get under the knife asap then get back to helping my teammates in any way possible finish off the year to the best of our abilities.”

Carrigan, 24, has been a pivotal member of the Broncos resurgence this season, after he missed much of the previous season when he ruptured an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL).

He has played 13 games this year, averaging 143 running meters and 32 tackles a game.

Last month, Carrigan created State of Origin history as the first debutant to win the Wally Lewis Medal, as the player of the series for the Maroons.

The Broncos are in fifth place on the NRL ladder, but are only outside the top four on points differential.

They play a crucial top-eight clash against the Roosters at the Sydney Cricket Ground this Thursday night.

There are five rounds of the regular season to go.