Kaufusi wins court case, free for must-win NRL game – Australian Associated Press

Felise Kaufusi is eligible to play in the Dolphins' competitive match against Newcastle, with the winner taking the last remaining place in the top eight.

However, Kaufusi, who was initially offered a two-game suspension, must now pay a $1,800 fine after his charge of dangerous contact was converted to a first-degree misdemeanor at an hour-long court hearing in Sydney on Tuesday night.

Judicial panel members Tony Puletua and Sean Hampstead took less than ten minutes to unanimously agree that Kaufusi's late, high hit on Brisbane halfback Adam Reynolds posed only a low risk of injury.

The result gives the Dolphins a huge boost to their hopes of reaching the finals in just their second NRL season, as well as ending the Knights' hopes of a top eight finish at McDonald Jones Stadium on Sunday.

“This is a big event for us and hopefully it will motivate the boys,” said Kaufusi.

“I thought I would have better luck playing the Powerball lottery (than winning).”

“Last time I was here I was secretly confident and got four weeks. You never know with these things. You can never feel comfortable, I definitely wasn't.

“(But) I knew we had good chances, good advice and the support of the club.”

The panel was convinced by the defense's argument that Kaufusi made only fleeting contact with Reynolds' head and neck during the first half of the Dolphins' 40-6 victory on Saturday night.

Although the jury found that the shot was fired too late, they agreed that the brunt of the contact was on Reynolds' side and that Reynolds was able to brace himself for the contact, thereby reducing its severity.

Assisted by Dolphins assistant coach Kristian Woolf, Kaufusi sat silently as his legal representative, Nick Ghabar, presented video evidence of what he said was a similar hit from earlier in the season.

On that occasion, St. George Illawarra prop Jack De Belin received only a first class penalty for hitting Gold Coast playmaker Kieran Foran after a pass.

The judicial panel noted similarities with that shooting and was particularly convinced that Reynolds' head was not significantly shaken by Kaufusi's blow, consistent with a low level of force.

Kaufusi was the fifth player to request a demotion from the umpire this season and the third to do so successfully after Manly captain Daly Cherry-Evans and South Sydney's Richie Kennar.

NRL representative Lachlan Gyles said the “critical consideration” was whether the tackle posed a medium rather than a low risk of injury.

He argued unsuccessfully that Kaufusi exerted a moderate amount of force by coming off the line and accelerating into high contact.

He said “a player with Kaufusi's experience, quality and coordination” should have been able to stop the collision, which he said posed a medium risk of injury as Reynolds had gone to be examined for his head injury.