NRL: Thurston in danger of missing decider

Johnathan Thurston. Photo / Getty Images

Queensland superstar Johnathan Thurston is in danger of missing the deciding third State of Origin match after being charged by the NRL match review committee with contrary conduct.

The North Queensland co-captain will miss two games, including the Origin match, unless he can have his grade two charge for alleged contact on referee Matt Cecchin in Saturday night's win over the Warriors downgraded at a judiciary hearing.

An early guilty plea or an unsuccessful defence at the judiciary will result in a two-game ban - the Cowboys' clash with Penrith this Sunday and Origin 3 at Suncorp Stadium on July 6.

The news is a huge concern to Maroons coach Mal Meninga and his team who are desperate to send Darren Lockyer out a winner and secure a sixth straight series win.

Cowboys forward Tariq Sims is likely to miss at least one match after he was charged with a grapple tackle on Warrior Krisnan Inu. Touted as a bolter for the Blues, Sims has received a grade two charge for dangerous contact - unnecessary head and neck pressure. He will miss one game with the early plea or two with an unsuccessful defence.

Melbourne wrecking ball Sika Manu has escaped a similar charge for a nasty-looking tackle on Wests Tigers fullback Wade McKinnon in the Storm's weekend win but has been booked for dropping his knees on backrower Gareth Ellis. The grade one dangerous contact charge means Manu will escape a ban with the early plea or miss one game with an unsuccessful challenge.

Rookie Broncos coach Anthony Griffin has dumped promising juniors Andrew McCullough and Ben Hunt for Friday's game against Souths in Perth for disciplinary reasons.

The 21-year-olds will instead turn out for their affiliate clubs in the Queensland Cup at the weekend after both were charged by police with being a public nuisance in the early hours of Saturday morning.

They'd earlier been refused entry to two Brisbane city hotels before they were approached by police.

Police reportedly approached McCullough and Hunt after security staff had refused them entry to both the Victory and nearby Stock Exchange hotels. They were issued with on-the-spot fines after attempting to gain entry to a third bar.

Penrith coach Matt Elliott yesterday agreed to step down early. Elliott was due to leave at the end of the season. He has been replaced by assistant Steve Georgallis for the remainder of the year.

Georgallis, 42, is among a host of names - including Nathan Brown and Warriors coach Ivan Cleary - linked with the job for next season.

- AAP