A recap of all the action as Felise Kaufusi, Jahrome Hughes and Fletcher Baker fought their charges at the NRL Judiciary on Tuesday night.
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6:32pm - Ghabar, representing Kaufusi, argues the tackle was "only marginally late and deserves no more than a base charge", saying "player Kaufusi was slightly to the right and ahead of him so player Hastings knows he is coming towards him.
"The ball is leaving Hastings' hands but you can see that Kaufusi is already committed to make a tackle. First contact is Kaufusi’s left arm on the No.7
"In the Suaalii tackle, there is no commitment to make the tackle until after Nicoll-Klokstad has released the ball. His contact is not only careless, it is grossly careless.
Ghabar adds Nicoll-Klokstad was in a more vulnerable position than Hastings when Suaalii plants his left foot and drives his right shoulder into the back of the Warriors fullback, causing whiplash. It is quite severe to his head and neck."
6:23pm - Knowles begins his submission: "Player Hastings is looking, as ball players often do, for an offload to a player on outside. Kaufusi is about one metre away and Hastings has turned his body so that his side is vulnerable should contact occur. Player Kaufusi does not make any attempt to slow down or avoid contact. He goes through with the tackle with full momentum at a time when Hastings is particularly vulnerable."
Speaking on the Suaalii tackle in comparison, Knowles adds: "I just ask you to recognise two hits which are different - the tackler Suaalii is not rushing up at speed. If you do that you must show a duty of care. Player Hastings had no ability to protect himself. He had already passed the ball and was not involved in the play. There were no mitigating circumstances or anything that could explain how this tackle could be on the lower level of seriousness."
6:10pm - The hearing has begun with NRL legal counsel Patrick Knowles showing footage from seven different camera angles of Kaufusi’s hit on Hastings after he passed the ball to Bradman Best.
The panel was then shown footage by Ghabar of a tackle by Sydney Roosters star Joseph Suaalii on Warriors fullback Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad in Round 2 that was not cited by the Match Review Committee.
6:00pm - Felise Kaufusi has arrived at Rugby League Central alongside Dolphins assistant coach Kristian Woolf. He is represented by lawyer Nick Ghabar.
Paul Simpkins and Bob Lindner are the panel members alongside judiciary chairman Justice Geoff Bellew.
Kaufusi has pleaded guilty to Dangerous Contact on Newcastle’s Jackson Hastings but is seeking a downgrade from Grade 2 to 1 in a bid to be part of the club's historic clash against the Broncos on Friday night.
A downgrade would leave Kaufusi with a fine, while if the challenge is unsuccessful, his suspension will rise from three to four weeks as it is his third offence.