The Titans may be without Mitch Rein for this weekend’s clash with the Knights in Newcastle, after the hooker was charged by the NRL judiciary with a Grade 1 dangerous throw in the Gold Coast’s 24-8 loss to the Storm on Sunday.
Rein was placed on report for a lifting tackle on Melbourne’s Brandon Smith in the 64th minute of the Titans’ gutsy loss to the premiership favourites, and the match review committee has now decided the incident is worth of a charge.
The charge carries 150 demerit points if Rein fights the charge and is subsequently found guilty, or 112 points if he takes the early guilty plea. Either result will see the talented rake miss the showdown with the Knights.
Should Rein be suspended, it will be a significant blow for the Titans, who have experimented with playing two hookers on the field at the same time in recent weeks – using Rein at No.9 and Nathan Peats at lock.
It has coincided with Gold Coast’s most impressive recent performances, against the Storm and the Eels, with the extra mobility around the middle of the field proving effective for the Titans as they search for a win to finish off the year.
