Wade Graham will miss State of Origin II, after being handed a one-match ban for a high tackle on Johnathan Thurston at the NRL judiciary.
The judiciary panel of Bob Lindner, Don McKinnon and Sean Garlick took 12 minutes to deliberate on Wednesday night before handing down its verdict.
Graham had been selected to make his Origin debut in game two in Brisbane next Wednesday as a replacement for the injured Boyd Cordner. He will sit out the clash due to the second-half tackle on Queensland playmaker Thurston in Cronulla’s Monday night win over North Queensland.
St George Illawarra back-rower Tyson Frizell will take Graham’s spot in the Blues’ side for Origin II in his interstate debut.
“Obviously, I am very disappointed I miss out on the game. There’s not really words to describe how disappointing it is,” Graham said.
“But we went in there and put in a good argument. It was a fair case – unfortunately, the decision didn’t go my way tonight.
“It is important for me to move on and head back to Cronulla and, hopefully, have my name in the ring for Origin III.
Giving evidence in the hearing that went for just over an hour, Graham said he couldn’t have prevented himself hitting Thurston in the way he did.
“The contact was avoidable. If I could have avoided it, I would have,” he said.
“I just tried to get up and make a normal tackle, to get low and get my shoulder under the ball. It gets wet late in the game at Cronulla and I tried to force an error.
“But he ducked right in front of me. It was too late to adjust. It was too quick.”
Judiciary prosecutor Peter McGrath argued Graham did not show enough care towards Thurston in making the tackle.
“You have followed him and effectively flung yourself towards him,” he said.
“The tackle was careless; there was unnecessary and forceful contact to the player Thurston.”
Graham’s defence counsel Nick Ghabar argued the tackle “was a grabbing type of motion”.
“Unfortunately, there was contact, but it was of a very low force and it was unavoidable.
“Graham was in the motion of making the tackle, when player Thurston slipped and player Graham had less than a second to react.”
However, McGrath successfully countered: “Of course it was avoidable. It was avoidable with care. It wasn’t an accident.”
Graham will next be available for Cronulla’s round-16 fixture on Saturday week against the Warriors.
Norad
Guest
Typical NRL joke. No one got hurt from a tackle that was made below the neck & momentum did the rest not Wade. What would the NRL want to rob a major event of a major star? Just nonsense. If the NRL were running Hollywood they would pull stars out of a blockbuster movie for exceeding the parking limit in the staff carpark.
Squidward
Roar Rookie
Like how Saint JT got 2 dally m points on Monday. He deadset did nothing. Taumaulolo was by far their best. Golden child
Blue Cat
Guest
But it wasn't and isn't; it didn't happen and never will, so you will never, never know. JT is a saint
Joel
Roar Rookie
If it was the other way around and Thurston made that tackle on Graham, it never would have even reached judiciary. JT wouldn't have even been charged.
Blue Cat
Guest
Good to see the judiciary grew a backbone, and set of kahunas. Graham got the week he deserved. Serias, ne?
Red Dog
Guest
The judiciary sounds like a bunch of pre school teachers discussing an incident in the playground . What a joke .