North Queensland's Reuben Cotter will participate in the finals after successfully contesting a high-tackle charge at the NRL judiciary. His legal counsel, Tom Hancock, delivered an effective five-minute argument, which led to a reduction in the initial grade-two charge to grade one.
Cotter faced a potential ban before the Cowboys' elimination final against Cronulla. The adjustment in his charge meant he was fined $1,500 but received no suspension, much to the delight of both him and coach Todd Payten, who reacted positively via video link.
Hancock, who played as an under-20 for the Cowboys in 2012, contended that a bump from teammate Coen Hess was responsible for Cotter's high tackle on Canberra's Josh Papalii. He explained that this interference changed Cotter's trajectory, leading him to make contact with Papalii's head instead of the chest.
"He looks set to make contact around the right pec area of Papalii," Hancock stated. He highlighted how Hess's contact intersected with Cotter's shoulder, altering his approach.
The panel took 30 minutes to reach their verdict, ultimately agreeing that Hess had influenced the tackle, despite the initial opposition from the NRL's legal counsel. This ruling allows Cotter to join the team in Sydney for their serious matchup this Saturday.
If the appeal had failed, Cotter would have risked missing additional finals games if the Cowboys advanced. Hancock's successful defense marked his third victory at the judiciary this year, reinforcing his reputation in this context.
Previously, he had also defended Cotter effectively last month and helped Pat Carrigan with a similar charge in round 23.