Cowboys confident of clearance

North Queensland Cowboys officials are confident that the NRL hearing into their substitution bungle on Saturday night will be favorable.

The Cowboys had 14 players on the field in Canberra for around 20 seconds or 3 tackles. Unlike the previous bungle by the Brisbane Broncos several years ago, where Corey Parker was the additional man and scored a try - the Cowboys duo of Faiumu and Smith took no part in the match.

The Cowboys are claiming that the NRL substitution sideline official took the sub card from Faiumu thereby clearing the player to run on to the field.

It will be interesting to see what the NRL hearing produces, will they blame their sideline official? If the NRL go after the Cowboys and attempt to dock competition points and / or fine the North Queensland club, expect the Cowboys to fight the penalty through legal avenues.

As the Broncos did in 2004, they fought and successfull won their appeal and had 2 points returned to them.

Peter Parr from the Cowboys has also stated that docking of 2 points is extremely severe. In comparison he pointed out that the Warriors were only docked 4 points for a salary cap breach in excess of half a million dollars.

We wait with interest.

(Cowboys CEO Peter Parr Pictured)