The NRL has threatened Melbourne halfback Jahrome Hughes with a two-match ban for shoving referee Chris Butler while trying to stop a try.
In a bizarre postscript to the Storm’s thrilling 30-26 win over the Warriors on Saturday night, Hughes was on Sunday hit with a grade-two contrary conduct charge.
WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Jahrome Hughes shoves referee before try-saving tackle.
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The charge relates to an incident in the second half, when referee Butler found himself between Hughes and Rocco Berry as the Warriors centre charged for the line.
Replays show Hughes nudging Butler out of the way, with the referee hitting the ground before the Storm halfback attempts a try-saving tackle.
The incident prompted chuckles from commentators at the time but the NRL have deemed it no laughing matter.
The Kiwi international will miss next Sunday’s clash with Newcastle with an early guilty plea, and risks a second week out if he fights the charge and loses at the judiciary.
Butler was the second official to become entangled in play over the weekend.
Canterbury were denied a try on Friday night against Cronulla when referee Ziggy Przeklasa-Adamski was deemed to have got in the way of the Sharks’ Braydon Trindall as he tried to stop Viliame Kikau close to the line.
There was contact between Trindall and Przeklasa-Adamski, but only in the process of Trindall attempting to make a tackle.
Hughes’s decision to push Butler to the side achieved little for the Storm.
While he slowed down Berry close to the line, Marcelo Montoya scored on the next play.