NRL

North Queensland will take a major gamble at the NRL judiciary as the Cowboys fight to have co-captain Reuben Cotter available for their do-or-die final against Cronulla.

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Cotter has pleaded not guilty to a Grade 2 careless high tackle charge stemming from the opening play of Saturday night’s 50-30 loss to Canberra.

The Queensland representative was sent to the sin bin after making high contact with retiring Raiders prop Josh Papali’i, who left the field for a HIA before later returning to the contest.

The Match Review Committee charge left Cotter facing a one-match suspension with an early guilty plea, which would have automatically ruled him out of North Queensland’s elimination final.

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Instead, the Cowboys have opted to fight the charge at the judiciary in an attempt to clear one of their most important forwards to face the Sharks.

(Getty Images)

Getty Images

The decision comes with considerable risk, with Cotter facing a two-match suspension if he challenges the charge and is found guilty.

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However, with North Queensland’s season now on the line every week, the club has decided the potential reward of having its co-captain available for the sudden-death clash is worth the gamble.

Cotter’s absence would leave a significant hole in the Cowboys’ middle, with the 27-year-old an established Queensland and Australian representative and a key member of North Queensland’s forward pack.

The Cowboys qualified for the finals in eighth position and will now face Cronulla knowing there is no second chance, with defeat bringing their 2026 campaign to an immediate end.

Before attention can fully turn to the Sharks, however, the Cowboys face a crucial battle at the judiciary that will determine whether Cotter is able to take his place in the club’s biggest game of the season.

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