Greg Bird, having already earned the distinction as the game's most suspended current player, will become the third-most suspended player in NRL history if he fails to have a dangerous throw charge downgraded in a bid to play State of Origin.
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Facing an eight-match suspension for a grade two dangerous throw, Bird will front the NRL judiciary on Wednesday night seeking to convince the panel of former players the tackle on New Zealand winger Jason Nightingale in Australia's 26-12 Test loss on Sunday was only a grade one offence.
If the Gold Coast forward is successful, he will be available to play for NSW in the opening Origin match at ANZ Stadium on May 27 after a two-match ban.
If he fails he will be suspended for eight matches and miss the entire Origin series due to his poor judiciary record, which includes five previous dangerous throw offences.
If that was to occur, Bird would sit behind only John Hopoate and Craig Smith on the list of NRL players to have missed the most matches through suspension.
Having previously served 21 matches in suspension since debuting for Cronulla in 2002, Bird is already the most suspended player in the NRL – ahead of Sharks captain Paul Gallen and Manly centre Steve Matai, who have both been banned for a total of 20 matches.
That tally has increased to 23 matches as he has pleaded guilty to a grade one dangerous throw and the the additional six matches if he is found guilty of a grade two offence would take the total number of matches served through suspension by Bird to 29.
Hopoate spent 45 matches on the sideline through suspension during his colourful career with Manly and Wests Tigers, while former St George Illawarra and Newcastle prop Craig Smith was banned for 32 matches.
Former Wests Tigers, North Queensland and Sydney Roosters back-rower Luke O'Donnell also served bans totalling 29 matches during his career.
Bird will leapfrog former Manly prop Danny Williams (28matches), former St George and Cronulla prop Jason Stevens (27 matches), ex-Sydney Roosters hardman Adrian Morley (26), ex-Parramatta and South Sydney prop Fuifui Moimoi and former Manly, Cowboys and Penrith five-eighth Travis Burns (25 matches).
Former Canberra and Roosters prop Quentin Pongia served 40 matches in suspension, while ex-Penrith, Balmain and Perth Reds forward Mark Geyer was banned for 34 matches but both played before the formation of the NRL in 1998.
With three previous dangerous throw charges in the past 12 months, Bird has received a 150per cent loading to the base penalty and he also has 38 carryover points from the most recent offence in round 25 last season.
As a result, the penalty of 325demerit points for a grade two dangerous throw has become 812 demerit points, with each 100points equating to a one-match ban.
A grade one dangerous throw carries a base penalty of 125 demerit points, which has become 352 points for Bird but with a 25per cent discount for an early plea he will have the ban reduced to two matches.
Most Games Suspended 1998-2015
Player Games
John Hopoate 45
Craig Smith 34
Luke O'Donnell 29
Danny Williams 28
Jason Stevens 27
Adrian Morley 26
Fuifui Moimoi 25
Travis Burns 25
Ruben Wiki 23
Michael Crocker 22
Greg Bird 21*
Ben Ross 20
Paul Gallen 20
Steve Matai 20
Source: David Middleton League Information Services
