Brisbane's Lavinia Gould says Sydney Roosters prop Sarah Togatuki shouldn't face suspension for the hit which could rule her out of Sunday's NRLW grand final.
Togatuki is staring at a two-game ban after she was cited for a grade two careless high tackle on Sunday in the Roosters' 22-16 semi-final win over the Broncos.
Gould was ruled out of the game after just four minutes when she failed a HIA at Leichhardt Oval and the Broncos went on to let a 16-point lead slip.
Togatuki can receive a one-game suspension if she takes an early guilty plea, but such a move would still rule her out of Sunday's decider against St George Illawarra at Redcliffe.
It means she will have to head to the judiciary later this week to get the charge downgraded, with Gould of the belief the Roosters forward doesn't deserve to be rubbed out of the grand final.
"We play a contact sport and I don't believe she was out there to hurt me," Gould told AAP.
"If I had my time again, I'd like to change my position on the way I went into the tackle and I'm sure she would do the same.
"Sometimes things don't go to plan when the game is played at such a pace.
"There was no intent or malice on her behalf; it was just an unfortunate part of the game.
"I don't hold her accountable and I don't want her to miss out on a grand final because she's worked hard to get there.
"I don't know her personally but we have mutual friends and they say how she's the nicest person you'd ever meet."
Gould said she felt knocked about by the hit but had no concussion symptoms on the day or on Monday before the Broncos returned to Brisbane.
Togatuki, who has been one of the Roosters' most consistent performers this season, has three tries in six NRLW games this season.
If she fails to have her charge downgraded the NSW State of Origin forward will miss the grand final and the first game of the 2022 NRLW season.
