ID :
190406
Wed, 06/22/2011 - 14:05
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/190406
The shortlink copeid
Johnathan Thurston free to play Origin III
SYDNEY (AAP) - June 22 - North Queensland co-captain Johnathan Thurston is free to play in next month's State of Origin decider after being found not guilty of making contact with a referee by the NRL judiciary.
Thurston was facing a two-game ban as a result of the grade two charge, which stemmed from his collision with Matt Cecchin in the Cowboys' win over the Warriors on Saturday night.
A guilty finding would have wiped Thurston out of Origin III on July 6 in Brisbane - in what would have been a major blow to Queensland's hopes of securing a sixth-straight series win.
But the three-man panel of Ian Roberts, Michael Buettner - both former NSW Origin representatives - plus Sean Garlick, deemed the contact accidental, but only after a lengthy deliberation lasting 45 minutes that would no doubt have had the champion playmaker nervous.
Thurston was facing a two-game ban as a result of the grade two charge, which stemmed from his collision with Matt Cecchin in the Cowboys' win over the Warriors on Saturday night.
A guilty finding would have wiped Thurston out of Origin III on July 6 in Brisbane - in what would have been a major blow to Queensland's hopes of securing a sixth-straight series win.
But the three-man panel of Ian Roberts, Michael Buettner - both former NSW Origin representatives - plus Sean Garlick, deemed the contact accidental, but only after a lengthy deliberation lasting 45 minutes that would no doubt have had the champion playmaker nervous.
