North Queensland Cowboys veteran forward Reuben Cotter and Cronulla Sharks outside back Michael Gabrael are both facing expulsion from Week 1 of the NRL finals after being charged by the match review committee.
The duo are part of a charge list which features eight players out of Saturday's triple header, which saw the Manly Sea Eagles come within a whisker of beating the New Zealand Warriors, the Canberra Raiders shock the North Queensland Cowboys in Townsville, and the Melbourne Storm clinch a last second victory over the Cronulla Sharks.
Cotter, playing for the Cowboys in their alarm-bell-raising loss, has been hit with a Grade 2 carless high tackle charge for a first minute shot on Josh Papalii, who was playing his final game before retirement.
The Queensland State of Origin representative was sin binned for the offence and, given it's a first on his record, he will only cop a single game off if he accepts the early guilty plea, while the risk of missing a second game applies if he challenges.
That second game would either be a second Cowboys final, or the opener of the Rugby League World Cup where he is a likely selection for the Kangaroos.
Gabrael, making his debut for the Sharks for the injured Mawene Hiroti, was also sin binned for an ugly 5th minute high tackle on Siulagi Tuimalatu-Brown which saw the Storm winger wiped out of the game.
He has been slapped with a bigger Grade 3 charge, and while it's a first offence on his record, he is set to receive a two-match ban with an early guilty plea, or risk a third match by challenging.
It means he could be unavailable for the start of 2027 given he is unlikely to be picked in any World Cup squad.
In addition to the two suspendable offences, the MRC have also charged six other players.
Manly second-rower Ben Trbojevic (Grade 1 dangerous contact against Sam Healey), Noah Martin (Grade 1 dangerous contact against Scott Drinkwater), Matty Nicholson (Grade 1 dangerous contact against Reed Mahoney) and Ronaldo Mulitalo (Grade 1 contrary conduct against Harry Grant) are all facing $1000 fines with an early guilty plea, or $1500 if they fight and lose for first offences on their record.
Josh King is facing a $3000 fine for a second offence on his record - a Grade 1 crusher tackle against Toby Rudolf - and would risk two matches by heading to the judiciary, while Addin Fonua-Blkake has been slapped with a Grade 1 dangerous contact charge on Cooper Clarke. As it's a second offence on his record, he is facing $1800 with an early guilty plea, or $2500 if he fights and loses.
All eight players charged, including the finals bound Cotter and Gabrael, have until midday (AEST) on Monday to determine their pleas, with any cases proceeding to a hearing to be held on Tuesday evening at Moore Park.
