Reuben Cotter, a key forward for the North Queensland Cowboys, is set to play against the Cronulla Sharks this weekend following a successful legal battle regarding his high tackle charge.
During the Cowboys' unexpected defeat to the Canberra Raiders, Cotter delivered a high shot in the first minute that led to his initial Grade 2 careless high tackle charge.
After pleading not guilty, Cotter faced a 90-minute hearing on Tuesday in which he defended his case, risking a potential second match suspension.
His defense argued that teammate Coen Hess inadvertently caused the high contact during the play.
The dangerous tackle resulted in the retiring Josh Papalii being evaluated for a head injury, while Cotter received a sin bin penalty.
Despite the NRL's strong case being initially endorsed by the judiciary, Cotter successfully contested the severity of his charge.
This challenge led to a downgrade to a Grade 1 offense, which means he will only incur a financial penalty and will be available for the matchup against the Sharks.
His return is pivotal for the Cowboys, especially as he joins Jason Taumalolo and Griffin Neame in the forward pack for their important clash at Allianz Stadium.
Playing at this venue, rather than Shark Park, could provide an advantage as the Cowboys seek to advance in the finals after concluding the regular season in eighth place.