The Dolphins received a big boost ahead of their crunch clash with the Cavaliers after hitman Felise Kaufusi avoided a ban after his charge of dangerous contact was reduced by the courts.
Kaufusi was hit with a second-degree dangerous contact charge for a hit on Broncos halfback Adam Reynolds that forced him off the field for a head injury evaluation, with both men yelling at each other each other as they passed—the other on the sideline. behind the Dolphins star. he was sent into the penalty area.
The veteran winger pleaded guilty to the charge but requested a demotion on Tuesday night, with the Dolphins star also choosing to travel to Sydney with assistant coach Kristian Woolf for the hearing. After a hearing that lasted just over an hour, the panel of Tony Puletua and Sean Hampstead took less than 10 minutes to determine that the force was low, the risk of injury was low and that Reynolds had time to defend himself.
That means Kaufusi is free to face the Cavaliers on Sunday afternoon, but will have to pay an $1,800 fine after avoiding what would have been a three-game suspension if he didn’t play.
“I probably don’t see it now (that I’m the most relieved man in rugby league), but I’m starting to get it,” said a relieved Kaufusi. “There was a lot on the line because I had to play three weeks, so it was only natural that I came and challenged myself.
“I hope it will be a big boost (for the team). We have a lot to gain from this match. It’s a great event for the boys and I hope it helps them.
“I think I had more luck getting into the Powerball. The last time I went to see the judge I was quietly confident and I had four weeks.
“You never know with these things and you can never be comfortable – I certainly wasn’t – but I knew we had a good deal, a good lawyer, the support of the club and the great Nick Ghabar, who played well this Coroner Lachlan Gyles used nine angles and argued that Reynolds was “vulnerable” and the level of force was moderate and directed at the head.
“At the time of contact, Reynolds did not have the ball,” he said.
“The contact was high, the contact was late and there was an opportunity to deflect or put your hands forward to reduce the impact on Reynolds. He had a force level that was moderate. He moved away from the line and rushed to make contact.
“Reynolds was vulnerable at the time and could not avoid contact.”
Defense lawyer Nick Ghabar used a similar shot last month when Dragons forward Jack de Belin was hit with a Level 1 dangerous contact charge for a tackle on Kieran Foran that sent him into the penalty box.
But Gyles said Kaufusi used an “unconventional punching technique compared to de Belin” and had time to reduce the point and force of contact before his left shoulder made contact with the head. Ghabar defended Kaufus and said he did his job well because Reynolds had a look at the defensive line and was tasked with putting legitimate pressure on the ball carrier.
His main argument was that it was a “secondary glance or contact with the side of the head” and that any negligence was at a lower level.
“It’s not like he was running like crazy,” he said, saying Reynolds was not in a vulnerable position as he had time to raise his bumpers to protect himself. “Most of the force came from the contact of the two bodies. Then there was a secondary force as the head hit Kaufusi’s left shoulder.
“Reynolds’ head reacts very little. It moves just after the contact.”
The Dolphins are coming off a big win over the Broncos and will reach the finals for the first time if they can beat the Knights, with the winner of Sunday’s game finishing eigh