In a crucial decision for North Queensland's elimination final, co-captain Reuben Cotter has pleaded not guilty to a grade two careless high tackle charge.
The outcome of the judiciary hearing, scheduled for Tuesday night, will determine Cotter's availability against Cronulla on Saturday at Allianz Stadium.
The Match Review Committee issued the charge following Cotter's high tackle on Canberra prop Josh Papalii during a match where the Cowboys suffered a 50-30 defeat.
Cotter's infraction came just 15 seconds into the game, leading to his sin-binning. Papalii was temporarily removed for a head injury assessment but returned to contribute significantly before retiring from the NRL on a high note.
If Cotter is found guilty, there remains a possibility for a downgrade to a grade one charge, resulting in only a fine, hence allowing him to play against the Sharks.
Teammate Tom Dearden emphasized Cotter's importance, stating, "Reuben's an integral part of the team and we'd love to have him for round one of the finals." He underscored the significance of pushing for a downgrade.
Cotter has previously faced three grade one charges this season from the MRC but carries no additional penalties on his record. Two of these charges have since been dismissed, and he successfully contested a third charge earlier in the season.
Should the judiciary not rule in his favor, Cotter could miss two matches. Both head coach Todd Payten and Cotter downplayed the incident after the match.
Payten remarked, "It was a big collision," but believed it was a head-on-head encounter. Cotter echoed this sentiment, saying, "I thought it was head-on-head and I didn't feel like there was much in that."