O'Donnell handed three-match NRL ban

NSW forward Luke O'Donnell was handed a suspension for a spear-tackle on Darius Boyd in Origin II.

AAP

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State of Origin II, 2010

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Fans at State of Origin 2 2010

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NSW forward Luke O'Donnell has been handed a three-match suspension for a dangerous tackle that will keep him out of the third State of Origin match.

O'Donnell entered an early guilty plea to the charge stemming from the spear tackle on Maroons winger Darius Boyd which sparked an all-in brawl in the Blues' 34-6 loss to Queensland in Origin II at Suncorp Stadium on Wednesday night.

As his North Queensland club have only two NRL matches plus a bye beforehand, he is ruled out of the dead rubber third Origin match at Sydney's ANZ Stadium on July 7 when the Blues will attempt to salvage some pride after a fifth straight series loss.

O'Donnell appeared lucky not to face further judiciary action for an apparent head butt and punch to the face of Maroons forward David Taylor in the aftermath of his tackle.

Fellow Blues enforcer Paul Gallen escaped suspension after an early guilty plea to a grade one careless tackle charge for his 23rd minute high shot on Nate Myles.