Herbert has charge downgraded at judiciary

Gold Coast Titans centre, Patrick Herbert has had his Grade 2 Careless High Tackle charge downgraded to a Grade 1 at the NRL judiciary tonight.

The incident occurred in the 78th minute and the New Zealander was originally charged with a Grade 2 Careless High Tackle charge.

Herbert will now miss one game only and be available for selection for the Titans v Cowboys at Cbus Super Stadium in round 21.

Patrick Herbert's lawyer Peter Giurissevich referenced a comparable incident – a grade-one careless high tackle by Newcastle's Lachlan Fitzgibbon on Warriors playmaker Kodi Nikorima.

He successfully claimed Herbert's offences was "truly comparable" in all facets to Fitzgibbon's tackle despite the Knights player was hit with the lesser grading.

Giurissevich argued that Herbert's intention was to "to pounce on Mr Pereira and attempt to dislodge the ball" while the first point of contact was with Pereira's bicep before the Gold Coast back's forearm slipped up under the chin.