NSW five-eighth Josh Reynolds is to contest the grading of his dangerous throw charge at a NRL judiciary hearing on Thursday night in a bid to play in the second State of Origin game.
The Canterbury playmaker will risk missing three matches, including the home Origin game at ANZ Stadium on June 18, if he is unsuccessful in getting the charge reduced from a grade two.
Reynolds and Beau Scott were charged over their tackle which cartwheeled Queensland winger Brent Tate onto his back in the first half of the Blues’ 12-8 win in Wednesday night’s Origin opener.
If Reynolds had entered an early guilty plea, he would have received a two-match ban, ruling him out of Origin II due to Canterbury having a bye this weekend.
If he gets a downgrade of his charge, he will miss one game – the round-13 match against Manly on June 6 – but will be available for Origin II.
Scott was charged with a grade-one offence but will escape suspension with an early plea.