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Star North Queensland Cowboys and Queensland Maroons halfback Johnathan Thurston is in judiciary trouble after being charged by the NRL’s Match Review panel with Grade 2 contrary conduct, for contact with a referee.
Even with an early guilty plea, Thurston would be out for two weeks, with his only hope in fighting the charge, or the grading, after running into referee Matt Cecchin in the 23rd minute of the Round 15 Cowboys vs Warriors clash.
The grade 2 charge carries a penalty of 225 points, with 100 points worth a week on sidelines.
An early guilty plea reduces this to 202 points, while challenging the ruling and being found guilty will leave him with a charge of 270 points.
Thurston will almost certainly fight the grading or the charge, which the rulebook states as: “It’s the responsibility of the player to avoid contact with match officials at all times during a match.”
The hearing, should it go ahead, will be on Wednesday night at NRL Headquarters in Moore Park.
If found guilty, Thurston will miss the Round 16 game against the Penrith Panthers, and the Origin game.
Thurston and the Cowboys will have until midday tomorrow to notify the NRL of their decision.
The judiciary decision will be hotly anticipated, following Maroons coach Mal Meninga’s scathing comments after Blues winger Akuila Uate was able to play for New South Wales in game 2 after escaping a serious charge for a spear tackle.