Hodges cleared over unsafe throw

Burgess believed Hodges should not have been suspended for his lifting tackle on the Roosters’ Aidan Guerra in Friday night’s preliminary final at Suncorp Stadium.

“It’s a little bit worrying but I know myself in the tackle, there was nothing in it”, Hodges told commercial broadcaster Channel Nine on Sunday.

George Burgess and Greg Bird have suffered harshly at the NRL judiciary this season and say for Justin Hodges or any player to miss a grand final is deeply unfair.

The Broncos will obviously argue that Guerra contributed significantly to the outcome and that Hodges only had hold of his leg and wasn’t trying to drive him into the turf – and you’ve got three ex-footballers who will have to decide.

ANZ Stadium in Sydney will play host to the clash, which will kick off at 7.15pm AEST.

Not even Bennett could have predicted a grand final appearance when he first made his return to Brisbane.

“I’m just relieved that I get to finish with one more game”.

“The back’s going to be nothing compared to what I’ve just went through over the last couple of days”.

“I think common sense will prevail on that tackle”, he said.

Year after year I have watched them rise with great anticipation into the top eight, only to fail at the final few hurdles – often in controversial circumstances – and not be able to clinch that sweet, sweet victory.

Hodges dismissed suggestions of a Queensland conspiracy theory when asked about Guerra’s evidence.

Shearer said his son would be playing in the Noosa seven’s competition on Sunday, so he might be watching the grand final from the sideline.

Hodges’ defence counsel Nick Ghabar said that was primarily Guerra’s fault.

The start of the hearing was delayed by 44 minutes because McKenna’s, a former Maroons teammate of Hodges, plane from Brisbane was delayed.