The North Queensland Cowboys hopes of a second-place finish have taken a further hit following their 20-10 loss to the South Sydney Rabbitohs, with back-rower Coen Hess to face at least one week on the sidelines following a careless tackle on Campbell Graham.
The incident occurred in the 74th minute and initially appeared to look like a head clash. Graham went down immediately, but Hess was also clearly dazed as he was pushed over by Souths fullback Latrell Mitchell, staying on the ground for a short while as well.
The Grade 2 charge means that Hess will automatically miss a match despite it being his first offence, and though he can challenge at the judiciary, a further guilty finding would have him out for the first week of the finals as well.
In confusing scenes, Hess was sin-binned for the offence and the Cowboys finished the game a man down, but despite the charge, the sin bin and the fact Graham was prone on the ground immediately after the incident, the South Sydney centre was allowed to finish the game and wasnโt sent for an HIA, only leaving the field briefly before returning.
The scenes left a number of commentators perplexed, including Fox Sports' Cooper Cronk, who commented on the confusing scenes after the game.
โIf you freeze it, there probably is shoulder contact to Campbell Graham, so at first I was like โno worries, I understand this,โ Cronk said.
โBut then when Campbell Graham doesnโt even have an HIA, doesnโt have any protocols, leaves the field and comes back on as a foul play replacement, I think thatโs a little strange. Thatโs a grey area that needs to be cleaned up.
โThereโs a loophole there because the (sin bin) decision is made straight away, but the referee or bunker arenโt determining whether thatโs a HIA assessment for Graham.
โItโs a loophole that needs to be ironed out.โ
