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STORM prop Adam Blair must beat a grapple tackle charge to play in Friday night's opening finals match against Manly after being charged by the NRL match review committee.
Blair was charged with grade one dangerous contact - unnecesary head/neck pressure - over a tackle on Warriors captain Micheal Luck in Auckland last Saturday night which started a minor scuffle between the pair.
Because of two previous judiciary offences, Blair must succesfully challenge the charge at Wednesday night's tribunal to take his place in the grand final replay at Etihad Stadium.
If he fails to do so or pleads guilty Blair will be suspended for one match.
The Storm are battling a front row injury crisis with Matt Cross (leg) out for the season and Jeff Lima still in doubt with a broken thumb.Second-rower Sika Manu is also sidelined for the season with a leg injury.
Blair's charge could also reignite debate about Melbourne's wrestling tactics, which have previously cost the side dearly in finals football.
Last year, influential captain Cameron Smith was rubbed out of the grand final - lost 40-0 - for a grapple tackle the week before in a preliminary final against Brisbane.
Bulldogs centre Josh Morris escaped a charge for a dangerous throw on Wests Tigers prop Keith Galloway in Friday night's 34-12 loss.
South Sydney forward Ben Lowe was the only other player charged from the final round of the premiership but will not be suspended over a high tackle in Saturday night's 26-24 defeat of Cronulla.
http://www.smh.com.au/news/lhqnews/...e-tackle-charge/2009/09/07/1252201171547.html
Blair was charged with grade one dangerous contact - unnecesary head/neck pressure - over a tackle on Warriors captain Micheal Luck in Auckland last Saturday night which started a minor scuffle between the pair.
Because of two previous judiciary offences, Blair must succesfully challenge the charge at Wednesday night's tribunal to take his place in the grand final replay at Etihad Stadium.
If he fails to do so or pleads guilty Blair will be suspended for one match.
The Storm are battling a front row injury crisis with Matt Cross (leg) out for the season and Jeff Lima still in doubt with a broken thumb.Second-rower Sika Manu is also sidelined for the season with a leg injury.
Blair's charge could also reignite debate about Melbourne's wrestling tactics, which have previously cost the side dearly in finals football.
Last year, influential captain Cameron Smith was rubbed out of the grand final - lost 40-0 - for a grapple tackle the week before in a preliminary final against Brisbane.
Bulldogs centre Josh Morris escaped a charge for a dangerous throw on Wests Tigers prop Keith Galloway in Friday night's 34-12 loss.
South Sydney forward Ben Lowe was the only other player charged from the final round of the premiership but will not be suspended over a high tackle in Saturday night's 26-24 defeat of Cronulla.
http://www.smh.com.au/news/lhqnews/...e-tackle-charge/2009/09/07/1252201171547.html