Reuben Cotter is cleared to play against the Sharks after successful legal defense, avoiding a two-game ban for a high tackle.
Cowboys co-captain Reuben Cotter is free to play in Saturday night's elimination final against the Sharks after a masterclass from defence counsel Tom Hancock who spent eight seasons in the Queensland Cup before he retired in 2022.
Cotter was facing a two-game ban if he'd been found guilty at Tuesday's judiciary hearing after he was hit with a grade two careless high tackle charge for a high shot on Josh Papalii from the opening play of the game.
The North Queensland lock was sent to the sin bin just 15 seconds into Saturday's contest and was offered a one-match ban with an early guilty plea.
But the club rolled the dice and hit the jackpot with the representative star cleared to play this weekend after an initial blow was delivered by the judiciary panel of Henry Perenara and Bob Lindner.
The panel found Cotter guilty after a lengthy deliberation, but Hancock then sought a downgrade to the unanimous ruling when he was told he could by judiciary chairman Geoffrey Bellew.