Thaiday to face judiciary

Brisbane back-rower Sam Thaiday will appear before the NRL judiciary on Tuesday night to challenge his grade one charge for a crusher tackle on St George Illawarra forward Will Matthews.

Thaiday is facing missing the Broncos’ crunch clash with Melbourne on Friday, a game they must win to guarantee a spot in the finals, should he fail to get the charge overturned.

The Queensland and Test forward will appear before the panel at 7pm (AEST) an hour after South Sydney’s Issac Luke fights a dangerous contact charge.

Luke is risking a two-match ban if his appeal is unsuccessful, due to 65 carry-over points and 50 per cent loading for a similar offence in the past two years.

The Kiwi hooker will be rubbed out until the Rabbitohs’ second finals match if found guilty of kicking out at Canterbury’s Michael Ennis.

Penrith’s Adam Docker will be sidelined until the second week of the finals, if his side progress that far, for his dangerous throw on Manly’s Jason King after taking the early guilty plea.

Greg Bird’s season is over after he pleaded guilty to a dangerous throw charge and Parramatta veteran Ben Smith’s career looks to have come to a premature end after he took a three-week suspension for a crusher tackle on Newcastle’s Chanel Mata’utia.

The Eels back-rower earlier this month announced he would retire at the end of the season after an 11-year career and would need Parramatta to make the third week of the finals to play in the blue and gold again.

Dragons hooker Mitch Rein has also played his last games of the year due to a one-week suspension for dangerous contact with the kicker.

Sydney Roosters’ Michael Jennings, North Queensland’s Kane Linnett and Warriors prop Sam Rapira, are all free to play in Round 26 with early guilty pleas for grade one offences.

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