Latrell Mitchell will take up a free shot at trying to beat a dangerous contact charge at the NRL judiciary and clear his name to play in the Sydney Roosters’ preliminary final.
Mitchell was charged with a grade-one offence for his crusher tackle on Cronulla’s Josh Dugan in the Roosters’ 21-12 win on Saturday night.
With carryover points and weighting for prior offences, Mitchell was set to miss just one game before being available for the grand final if the Roosters qualify, regardless of whether he pleaded guilty or fought the case at the judiciary and lost.
However, if he comes up trumps and beats the charge on Tuesday night, he will be free to run out for the Roosters on Saturday week at Allianz Stadium.
The NSW State of Origin centre’s inclusion would be a massive boost for the Roosters, who are still without Dylan Napa through suspension for one more game.
Meanwhile, Korbin Sims’ nightmare Brisbane farewell got even worse on Monday morning after he was hit with a grade-two dangerous throw charge stemming from the Broncos’ 48-18 elimination final loss to St George Illawarra.
In a twist, Sims will link with the Dragons for the 2019 season on a three-year deal.
He faces a ban of up to three weeks for his first-half lifting tackle on the Dragons’ Blake Lawrie.
It was among a string of Sims errors that helped provide first half spark for the Dragons who scored four tries in 18 minutes to lead 28-10 at the break.
It may be an awkward pre-season Dragons arrival for Sims who faces a two-game ban with an early plea and three if he fights the charge and loses.
A distraught Sims had to be consoled by Broncos teammates after the game – his first finals match in 120 NRL appearances.