The Penrith Panthers will reportedly turn to coach Ivan Cleary at the judiciary on Tuesday night in a bid to overturn star hooker Api Koroisau’s looming one-game ban.
Meanwhile, Warriors winger Dallin Watene-Zelezniak will also fight a contrary conduct charge to avoid a one-game ban so he can line-up for his 150th NRL game this weekend.
Watene-Zelezniak’s hearing will be at 6pm, followed by Api Koroisau at approximately 6.30pm.
The panel consists of Bob Lindner, Ben Creagh and Dallas Johnson.
CLEARY TO FIGHT FOR KOROISAU
Api Koroisau was hit with a grade one contrary conduct charge for his involvement in a scuffle with Roosters hit man Jared Wareara-Hargreaves last weekend.
The 28-year-old would have just received a fine, however two prior offences has him staring at a one-game ban.
Koroisau had only just returned for that Roosters game from a two-game ban for breaching Covid protocols while in camp for State of Origin.
The Sydney Morning Herald is reporting the Panthers were advised by high profile lawyer Nick Ghabar not to bother fighting the charge because it would be a difficult case to win.
However, they will go ahead with it with Cleary representing Koroisau via a Zoom judiciary hearing on Tuesday evening.
According to the Herald, the Panthers are struggling to understand why Koroisau was charged in the first place and will urge the judiciary panel members to uphold the virtues and values of rugby league.
The incident in question happened in the final 10 minutes of the first half. Koroisau took offence to Waerea-Hargreaves’ tackle on rookie Izack Tago and ran in to push the Roosters’ star prop.
Cleary obviously backs his player’s actions and so will defend him — with the blessing of CEO Brian Fletcher.
“It’s great he feels for our players and if he can help them in any way it will be his pleasure to do so,” Fletcher told the Herald.
“He’s untrained as a lawyer, but he’ll do a good job — he may even do a better job because he knows more about the game.”
It’s not the first time a coach has represented a player at a judiciary hearing, however it has been 18 years since it last happened.
Penrith are no strangers to it either, with Phil Gould representing Greg Alexander over 30 years ago.
“I was playing fullback back in 1990, (Balmain’s) James Grant made a break and chipped over the top, I went for the ball but coat-hangered him,” Alexander told the Herald.
“Gus played lawyer that night and got me exonerated.
“He was pretty good. Gus has done everything in the game, but not many would know he also acted as lawyer for his players on occasion. It’s worth Ivan having a crack, definitely. It’s only a minor charge, so it’s worth the fight.
“Ivan will be passionate about the cause. He’ll present a good case. He might do enough to sway the judging panel.”
DWZ’S FIGHT FOR MILESTONE MATCH
If Dallin Watene-Zekezniak can overturn his contrary conduct charge, he’ll be free to play his 150th NRL game when the Warriors take on the Bulldogs — ironically the team Watene-Zelezniak made a mid-season switch from.
The star winger was hit with the charge after kneeing Sharks centre Will Chambers in the head while playing the ball.
Watene-Zelezniak is one of three Warriors players that were slapped with charges over incidents involving Chambers.
The other two, Matt Lodge and Kane Evans, both accepted bans.
Watene-Zelezniak could have gotten away with a fine had he not had two prior offences on his record.