Reuben Cotter of the North Queensland Cowboys is likely to be unavailable for the upcoming State of Origin opener due to a charge issued by the match review committee. During a closely contested match against the Warriors, which ended in a 30-26 defeat for the Cowboys, Cotter was involved in a tackle on Marata Niukore that appeared relatively harmless. Although no penalty was called at the moment—allowing the Warriors to score soon after via halfback Luke Metcalf—Cotter was later put on report.
On Sunday morning, it was announced that the 26-year-old forward faced a grade two careless high tackle charge, which could lead to a two-match suspension. If Cotter chooses to contest the charge at the judiciary and is unsuccessful, he risks an extended absence of three matches, which would result in him missing out on the crucial first State of Origin clash against New South Wales, scheduled for May 28.
Regardless of his decision regarding the charge, Cotter’s immediate future involves missing the next two games for the Cowboys with an early guilty plea. In a separate incident during the same weekend at Suncorp Stadium, Rabbitohs prop Tevita Tatola received a grade one careless high tackle charge but faces a fine of $1000 should he plead guilty early.