The NRL will move swiftly to close a loophole in its new judiciary code that will allow Will Chambers to escape a one-game ban as the man he left dazed and confused, Blues No.7 Mitchell Pearce, admitted he felt "sea sick" and is unlikely to back-up for the Roosters.
Melbourne exposed an ambiguity in the NRL's judiciary guidelines – introduced this year to impose fines for minor-grade offences rather than suspensions – that will free the Queensland centre to play for the Storm against the Knights on Friday night.
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Chambers was hit with a grade-one careless tackle for his shot that concussed Pearce midway through the Blues' record 28-4 romp, the third time this season he has been charged. A third strike is supposed to forfeit a player's right to a fine rather than suspension.
But the Storm's legal team argued the code only made reference to a suspension being triggered after a third conviction rather than charge, allowing Chambers to escape a ban.
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The NRL will reword the clause so players charged for a third time in a season won't have the fine available to them.
"It was all a bit confusing, to be honest," Storm coach Craig Bellamy said. "If they can't work it out, there's not much chance of me working it out.
"It is a bit of a worry but, anyway, it's good news for us and Will and hopefully he will come up OK [on Friday] night."
Chambers copped a $1100 fine for a contrary conduct incident in round one when he punched Canterbury's Sam Kasiano. He has also been suspended for a round-six shoulder charge on Cronulla's Wade Graham and will cop a $1550 fine for the Pearce incident.
The immediate outlook wasn't as bright for Pearce, who travelled back with the triumphant Blues on Thursday and looks set to sit out the Roosters' clash with the Anthony Milford-less Broncos on Saturday night.
Both halves were concussed in a bizarre sequence of events in the second half when Pearce was clocked by Chambers and Milford copped friendly fire from teammate Corey Oates.
"[I felt] a little bit dizzy, but I feel alright," Pearce said. "I felt a bit seasick [on Wednesday] night. I haven't had too many concussions in my career, but he got me good. I don't remember a whole lot, bits and pieces."
Milford has already been ruled out of the match, paving the way for Benji Marshall to play his first game in Sydney since moving to the Broncos.
Connor Watson could take Pearce's place opposite Marshall.
While Pearce, who collapsed to the ground as he tried to regain his feet, was helped off the field, Milford returned to the defensive line and missed James Tedesco close to the line in the next set before eventually being helped off the field.
The NRL is understood to be comfortable with how the Milford incident was handled.
It capped a busy night for the NRL's trial of a sideline independent doctor, Daelyn Cullen, to assess head knocks in conjunction with the NSW and Queensland medicos, given man of the match Andrew Fifita also needed to pass a Head Injury Assessment in the first half before returning.
"Overall the process on Wednesday night worked well and the respective medical staff of both teams were given an additional measure of support," an NRL spokesperson said. "However it would be more appropriate to judge a level of success following the full series.
"We'll take some key learnings out of the first match into the remainder of the series. Ultimately, it's important to note that the process would not have worked as it did without the co-operation of both teams."
with AAP
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