In a thrilling showdown on Saturday night, the North Queensland Cowboys triumphed over the Brisbane Broncos with a score of 18-10 in the iconic Queensland derby.
Yet, the Cowboys' success came at a cost, as two of their players received judiciary charges from the Round 21 encounter held at Queensland Country Bank Stadium.
Jaxon Purdue is facing a Grade 1 Dangerous Contact charge stemming from an incident at the 9-minute mark, involving Broncos forward Xavier Willison.
This marks Purdue's first offence, allowing him the option to plead guilty early for a fine of $1,000, or risk a heavier penalty of $1,500 if he contests the charge and is found guilty.
Additionally, prop Griffin Neame has been charged with a Grade 2 Careless High Tackle on Broncos player Ben Talty during the 23rd minute.
Neame's situation is more severe, as he faces a one-match suspension if he pleads guilty early, with the possibility of a two-match ban should he choose to fight the charge and lose in front of the judiciary panel.
As North Queensland aims to secure a finals position come September, Neame's suspension presents a challenge for coach Todd Payten, who must rethink his forward strategy in light of their next demanding match being less than a week away.
In contrast, since Purdue is only facing a fine, he is eligible to participate in Round 22, where the Cowboys are set to welcome the Sydney Roosters on Thursday night.