Blackhawks roll the dice
THE Townsville Blackhawks will tonight fight the grade one contrary conduct charge handed to forward David Munro in the wake of last weekend’s season first loss to Redcliffe.
Munro would have avoided suspension by pleading guilty, but the Blackhawks have enough confidence in their case to risk Munro missing one game if found guilty.
Munro will be slapped with 100 points if the Queensland Cup judiciary finds against him, meaning he would be sidelined during Saturday’s game against the Easts Tigers at Jack Manski Oval.
Had he pleaded guilty Munro would have copped 75 points to be carried over to a future charge.
Munro’s charge stemmed from a second- half incident with Redcliffe’s Tyson Cleal, which happened off the field.
The Townsville Bulletin un-
We don’t want to say too much, but we’re confident enough to fight it. ADRIAN THOMSON
derstands the incident was limited to a heated scuffle between the pair.
Cleal was also hit with a grade one charge and will have to serve a one- match ban regardless of whether he pleads guilty or fights the charge.
“We don’t want to say too much, but we’re confident enough to fight it,” Blackhawks football operations manager Adrian Thomson said. “We’ll see how we go. “From our viewpoint there doesn’t seem to be that much in it and that’s why we’ve decided to go this way.”
Munro played his second game of the ISC season last week after missing the first two rounds, and started at prop in place of suspended forward Corey Jensen, who is now available for selection after completing his one- match ban.
Jensen, who has been named in the Cowboys’ extended squad for tomorrow’s clash against the Rabbitohs at 1300SMILES Stadium, would be a welcome inclusion following last weekend’s bruising encounter.
Sam Hoare could also return to the Blackhawks after being named 18th man for the Cowboys.
Hoare played his second NRL game of the season last week in North Queensland’s 32- 26 win over the Gold Coast Titans.
The Blackhawks faced uncertainty earlier this week because of Cyclone Debbie but have resumed normal preparations, having trained overnight and again tomorrow.
The Queensland Rugby League had contingency plans in place for Saturday’s game, which would have been moved to a venue further north had Townsville been hit by Debbie.
Saturday’s kick- off is 4pm.