Felise Kaufusi is free to play for the Maroons in the State of Origin series opener after being found not guilty of a tripping charge at the NRL Judiciary.<\/p>\n
Today's result means the Storm back-rower will head into next week's clash as the most experienced forward in the Queensland side, with nine appearances at Origin level to date.<\/p>\n
The Melbourne star put his Maroons jersey in jeopardy over the weekend after being cited for tripping Brisbane's Jake Turpin late in the Storm's rout of the Broncos.<\/p>\n
Guaranteed to miss one match due to prior loadings, he had no option but to face up to the judiciary tonight to plead his case and overturn his charge.<\/p>\n
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The grade one charge carried a base penalty of 100 points, or one match, but Kaufusi's prior record meant he'd attract a loading that would trigger a suspension.<\/p>\n
He vitally needed to successfully fight his charge at the judiciary tonight to have any hope of playing in the series-opener on Wednesday week.<\/p>\n
It was Kaufusi's third charge this season, which made him ineligible for a fine.He was suspended for two matches in Round Two for dangerous contact on Parramatta's Ryan Matterson, and fined in Round Nine for dangerous contact on South Sydney's Cody Walker.<\/p>\n
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