David Taylor’s slim hopes of playing in this year’s State of Origin series will hinge on an NRL judiciary hearing on Wednesday.
Gold Coast forward Taylor is disputing the grading on his grade two dangerous contact with a kicker charge stemming from last weekend’s fiery derby against Brisbane.
If successful, the giant forward will only miss this Sunday’s game against Parramatta in Mudgee for the Titans and be available if Queensland selectors choose him for Origin I in Sydney on June 5.
But if Taylor’s bid falls short, he’ll cop a three-match ban and be unavailable for the series opener at ANZ Stadium.
Gold Coast coach John Cartwright believes the club has made the right call by disputing the grading of Taylor’s charge.
“We just feel it’s a little bit harshly graded and we’ll go down there and take our chances,” Cartwright said on Tuesday.
“You take everything into consideration. If we didn’t think we could get him downgraded, we wouldn’t go down and waste our time.
“We believe it was slightly on the high end of the grading and we’ll go down and contest that. Hopefully we can get it down to a week and get him right for the Cowboys game (on June 2).”
Taylor was one of three players from the 32-6 loss to the Broncos unavailable for the clash with the Eels, along with injured pair Beau Falloon (broken ankle) and David Mead (broken jaw).
Cartwright has chosen young prop Mark Ioane to take Taylor’s spot on the interchange bench while Anthony Don will replace Mead on the wing.
Matt Srama moves into the starting team at hooker in place of Falloon, with youngster Sam Irwin coming onto a five-man interchange bench with Luke O’Dwyer the 18th man.
Cartwright said Sunday’s game loomed as a crucial one for the Titans after last weekend’s thrashing and ahead of the Origin period.
“It’s a really important game for us leading into a Cowboys game where we’re going to be without the Origin boys,” he said.
“Every game takes on pretty much a major importance now.”
Titans: William Zillman, Kevin Gordon, Brad Takairangi, Jamal Idris, Anthony Don, Aidan Sezer, Albert Kelly, Luke Bailey, Matt Srama, Nate Myles, Greg Bird, Mark Minichiello, Ashley Harrison. Interchange: Luke Douglas, Mark Ioane, Ryan James, Sam Irwin, Luke O’Dwyer.