3 minute read
Felise Kaufusi has successfully argued against a grade-one tripping charge and is free to play State of Origin I for Queensland next Wednesday night.
Queensland's State of Origin defence has been handed a major boost with backrower Felise Kaufusi cleared of a tripping charge that frees him up for the opening match of the series next Wednesday.
The Melbourne talent took his case to the NRL judiciary on Tuesday night in the hope of being cleared of a one-match suspension so he would be free to line up for the Maroons.
It took the panel of Tony Puletua, Sean Garlick and Dallas Johnson just 15 minutes to find him not guilty after failing to find evidence Kaufusi made contact with Jake Turpin's leg in the 74th minute of the Storm's big win.
The experienced Maroons forward and representative Nick Ghabar successfully argued Kaufusi was trying to get to his feet quickly by raising his leg, and once he saw Turpin with the ball he lowered it to avoid contact.
The panel accepted that argument and ruled against NRL prosecutor Peter McGrath, who maintained Kaufusi made contact which was essential to proving him guilty of the reckless charge.
The result comes as a huge boost for the Maroons considering the charge usually warrants a fine but Kaufusi has two non-similar charges over the past two years.
For Kaufusi himself it's a weight off his shoulders in Maroons camp in his home town of Bundaberg where a street parade and meet and greet with fans was held on Tuesday.
"It means a lot (to play)," Kaufusi said earlier on Tuesday.
"There's a lot on the line, so to miss a game, let alone an Origin (would hurt).
"It's not like it's all on me, but I don't want to let the state down."
North Queensland forward Coen Hess was added to the Queensland squad as backup for Kaufusi and is now likely to miss out.
Kalyn Ponga, Cameron Munster, AJ Brimson, Christian Welch and Harry Grant all entered camp on Monday after missing NRL games through injury.
Coach Paul Green admits there were "a number of question marks at this stage" as he hopes to settle on his side by week's end.
Wednesday's training session will be the first test for players to prove their fitness.