The NRL judiciary has tonight rejected the Dyldam Parramatta Eels' argument to downgrade prop Junior Paulo’s Grade 3 Dangerous Throw charge.
Paulo was placed on report for a tackle on Sea Eagles hooker Matt Ballin during the Blue and Gold’s Round One match on Friday night, and later charged by the Match Review Committee.
Senior Counsel for the Eels put forward the case to downgrade Paulo’s charge, but the judiciary determined that the original grading will stand.
CEO Scott Seward was surprised by the ruling.
"The Eels are very disappointed with the judiciary's decision tonight,” Seward said.
"The club asked the judiciary to downgrade the charge and we believed that we had a strong case to support a reduction in the overall penalty.”
The Grade 3 Dangerous Throw charge will see Paulo sit out 9 weeks of the NRL Telstra Premiership season.
