Justin Hodges charged with grade one dangerous throw

JUSTIN Hodges may have played his last game for the Brisbane Broncos, as the 33-year-old has been cited for a dangerous throw.

Justin Hodges celebrates winning the NRL Preliminary Final between the Brisbane Broncos and the Sydney Roosters at Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane. Pics Adam Head

Retiring Brisbane star Justin Hodges will miss the NRL grand final unless he successfully challenges a dangerous throw charge at the judiciary this week.

Hodges, 33, was on Sunday cited by the NRL match review committee for his 57th-minute tackle on Sydney Roosters second-rower Aidan Guerra in Friday’s preliminary final win. The grade one charge attracts 125 base penalty points but two prior non-similar offences lifts the total to 175.

Unless he fights the charge and wins, the veteran centre will miss a fairytale finish to his 250-game NRL career.

Aidan Guerra admitted he did not think Hodges should face suspension for the tackle.

Hodges admitted he was nervous about missing out on the season finisher.

“It’s a little bit worrying but I know myself in the tackle, there was nothing in it,” he told The Sunday Footy Show.

“Obviously, I have to go down on Tuesday and fight the charge to live out my dream to play in the final again.”

The Origin veteran is also battling a back injury aggravated against the Roosters.

“Before half-time I went in, got a needle, and that helped me get back on the field,” he said.

“But obviously last night when the needle wore off, it was very painful yesterday and today still.”

Queensland teammate Guerra has already come out in defence of the representative star.

“I think common sense will prevail on that tackle,” he said after the match on Friday.

“It was a penalty — nothing more, nothing less.

“He’ll be right.”

Should Hodges be suspended, 23-year-old Lachlan Maranta is likely to take his place in the decider against North Queensland.

Originally published as Justin Hodges charged with grade one dangerous throw