Penrith five-eighth Jarome Luai has avoided a suspension after making intentional contact with a touch judge during the Panthers' 15-4 win over Brisbane on Thursday night.
With the Blues' team set to be named on Sunday for the opening match in Adelaide on Wednesday, May 31, Luai will be available for selection after the judiciary hit him with a grade-one contrary conduct charge.
Despite it being his second recent similar offence, Luai can pay an $1,800 fine and remain in contention to retain his sky blue number six jersey.
After setting up the first try of the night at Lang Park, Luai ran over to celebrate with winger Sunia Turuva, who had crossed in the corner.
As he rushed to embrace his teammate, Luai put a hand in the back of touch judge Chris Sutton in an apparent effort to move him out of the way.
Sutton shot a glare at Luai, who quickly moved to apologise, ironically by putting a hand on Sutton's shoulder, but the assistant referee still seemed unimpressed.
Luai said he "didn't realise it was the touchie until" after he made contact.
"I spoke to him straight away and said, 'I didn't know it was you'. I wasn't really looking. My headlights weren't on. I apologised … and we are sweet," Luai told AAP.
"I just wanted to make sure he was alright, and then I explained what happened. It was my mistake and I obviously apologised after."
For all his undeniable brilliance, the biggest knock on Luai has been his ill-discipline, including in his last Origin outing, when he stood over and shouted at Selwyn Cobbo after the Maroons winger was knocked out in a tackle early in the decider.
On that occasion, he also said he spoke to Cobbo after the match and "he was all good … I don't think I have anything to apologise for".
Despite Luai's latest apology, the judiciary has previously suspended players in the past for similar contact with match officials, as former Bronco Sam Thaiday pointed out on Channel Nine's coverage.
"I got suspended for that," he said of a 2013 incident.
"Off a scrum, I grabbed the umpire's shirt, trying to explain that he was holding me in the scrum against the Melbourne Storm here, and I got a week's suspension for that.
"You're not allowed to touch a referee."
Maroons great Johnathan Thurston said "it doesn't look good", while Penrith coach Ivan Cleary said he did not think there was much in it.
Even with Luai available, Blues selectors have a choice to make as to who will partner Nathan Cleary in the halves, with Cronulla's Nicho Hynes and South Sydney's Cody Walker in strong form to start the season.
ABC/AAP
