Cowboys star Jason Taumalolo to fight shoulder charge at judiciary

JASON Taumalolo will contest the charges laid against him at the NRL judiciary in a bid to play in Round 3.

BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA — MARCH 10: Jason Taumalolo of the Cowboys takes on the defence during the round two NRL match between the Brisbane Broncos and the North Queensland Cowboys at Suncorp Stadium on March 10, 2017 in Brisbane, Australia. (Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)

NORTH Queensland Cowboys are taking on the NRL over this season’s new definition of a shoulder charge, contesting charges laid on star forwards Jason Taumalolo and Matt Scott.

Both Taumalolo and Scott will take their grade-one shoulder charge cases to the NRL judiciary on Tuesday night.

In the case of Scott, it very much a matter of principle, as the Cowboys confirmed on Monday that he will require surgery on an anterior cruciate ligament injury suffered in North Queensland’s golden-point win over the Broncos last Friday night.

Taumalolo could face a suspension if he’s found guilty.

The decision to plead not guilty with Taumalolo means he would miss two matches, against Manly and Gold Coast, instead of one if the judiciary finds the charge proven.

An early plea would have sidelined Taumalolo for one match only, against Manly on Saturday night in Townsville.

Scott would have been suspended for one match had he accepted an early plea or lost his case at the judiciary over his contact on Broncos prop Korbin Sims.

Cowboys coach Paul Green was dismissive post-match of Taumalolo’s shoulder charge on Bronco Alex Glenn being worth a charge or ban.

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On February 4, the NRL announced that a player would be charged with a shoulder charge offence if the “contact is forceful and the player did not use, or attempt to use, his arms (including his hands) to tackle or otherwise take hold of the opposing player’’.

NRL head of football Brian Canavan said the amendment “clarified and simplified’’ the definition of a shoulder charge.

The two Cowboys players will appear on a video link from Townsville in two hearings on Tuesday night.