Brisbane Broncos star Justin Hodges has played his last National Rugby League game - unless he can beat a judicial charge this week.
Brisbane Broncos captain Justin Hodges Photo: PHOTOSPORT
The 33-year-old centre, who's retiring after the NRL season, will miss Sunday's grand final unless he successfully challenges his dangerous throw charge at the NRL judiciary on Tuesday night.
Hodges was cited by the NRL match review committee for his 57th-minute tackle on Sydney Roosters second-rower Aidan Guerra in Friday's preliminary final win.
The grade one charge attracts 125 base penalty points but two prior non-similar offences lifts the total to 175, meaning he will miss the decider against North Queensland unless he successfully fights the one-week ban.
Justin Hodges Photo: Photosport
Hodges admitted he was nervous about missing out on a fairytale finish to his 250-game career.
"It's a little bit worrying but I know myself in the tackle, there was nothing in it," he told The Sunday Footy Show.
"Obviously, I have to go down on Tuesday and fight the charge to live out my dream to play in the final again."
Maroons team-mate Guerra has already come out in defence of the representative star.
"I think common sense will prevail on that tackle," he said after the match on Friday. "It was a penalty - nothing more, nothing less.
"He'll be right."
The Queensland veteran is also battling a back injury aggravated against the Roosters.
Should Hodges miss the match, 23-year-old Lachlan Maranta is likely to take his place in the backline.