Monday, 5 September 2011

Broncos weighing up risks of fighting Thaiday charge



BRONCOS officials will decide today whether to proceed with an all-or-nothing judiciary gamble that could result in Sam Thaiday joining injured fullback Josh Hoffman on the sidelines for the rest of the season.


Thaiday was charged yesterday with a grade-two dangerous throw for his tackle on Manly prop Brent Kite in Brisbane's 18-10 win at Suncorp Stadium on Sunday, and will miss two matches with an early guilty plea.


However, he is considering seeking a downgrade at tomorrow night's judiciary hearing that would enable him to play in Saturday night's qualifying final against the Warriors.


The risk is that if he fails to convince the judiciary panel that his tackle warranted only a grade-one charge, Thaiday will be suspended for three matches and will be in danger of missing the grand final if Brisbane win this weekend and either Melbourne or Manly lose.


Broncos officials insisted last night that they had yet to decide whether to challenge the grading of Thaiday's charge or enter an early plea, and hope the side survives long enough in the finals campaign for him to return.


It is understood the match-review committee felt there were similarities between the tackle by Thaiday and the one that cost South Sydney forward Dave Taylor a five-match ban earlier this year. Taylor was charged with a grade-two dangerous throw for his tackle on Brisbane prop Scott Anderson, and unsuccessfully sought a downgrade at the judiciary.


Because of two other offences - including another dangerous throw - in the previous two years, Taylor received a five-match ban but Thaiday has no loading or carryover points.


If they proceed to the judiciary, it is expected the Broncos will argue that Thaiday's tackle on Kite was more like the grade-one offence of which Sydney Roosters forward Frank-Paul Nuuausala was found guilty, rather than Taylor's tackle on Anderson.


Should Thaiday plead guilty, former Test forward Dane Carlaw is under consideration to replace him against the Warriors on Saturday night, although the return of Test centre Justin Hodges enables Ben Teo to shift to the back row.


Brisbane coach Anthony Griffin is also deciding between Daniel Gagai and Dale Copley as Hoffman's replacement in the back line, with Gerard Beale expected to move to fullback and one of the under-20s stars to play on the wing.


Hoffman will miss New Zealand's end-of-season Four Nations campaign after scans yesterday confirmed the 23-year-old had torn his posterior cruciate ligament, but he does not need surgery. He is expected to be back for the start of next season.


Source: Sydney Morning Herald

No comments:

Post a Comment