Tackle charge could see Broncos’ Hodges miss final

The judiciary panel of Royce Ayliffe, Chris McKenna and Bronson Harrison believed Guerra’s testimony and found Hodges not guilty of the grade one risky throw charge levelled at him.

Copley has been named on an extended bench as cover for Hodges.

While the Broncos had a week off, coach Wayne Bennett, has named the same side that played the Cowboys in the first week of the finals.

FORMER Sunshine Coast junior and Roosters rake Jake Friend is lamenting what could have been after Friday night’s 31-12 preliminary final loss to the Broncos.

“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.

So when the Broncos and Cowboys won their respective preliminary finals at the weekend, ruling out a NSW team claiming the trophy, Queensland as a whole can celebrate.

Hodges also thanked Guerra, who testified to the judiciary that he jumped in the tackle to try to milk a penalty.

“But that’s not the reason we lost the game, we had our opportunities to get our game on and we didn’t”.

“I obviously have to go down [to Sydney] on Tuesday and fight the charge to live out my dream of playing the grand final”.

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

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

“And he felt the same, and that’s the reason why he came”.

“It’s just relief that I get to finish one more game”.

Although Suncorp stadium only have a capacity of 52,500, just under 30,000 less than ANZ stadium, Queensland Rugby League chairman Peter Betros says that it’s not a reason to play finals in Sydney.

This year Robinson has made a point of resting his big name players post-State of Origin including Mitchell Pearce, Boyd Cordner and Aidan Guerra.