Sydney Roosters captain Boyd Cordner admits he's confused about the NRL's shoulder-charge rule after Billy Slater's judiciary win on Tuesday.
Slater is free to play for Melbourne in the grand final against the Sydney Roosters on Sunday after a three-person panel found the champion fullback not guilty of the act last week.
"After that I don't know what a shoulder charge is anymore. I think you're all sitting there thinking the same thing," Cordner said on Triple M radio on Wednesday.
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Cordner said it was good to see the retiring legend farewell the game in a grand final.
"But on the other hand you sit there scratching your head about what actually are the rules around that. For me, personally, it was a shoulder charge."
The result means the NRL could now be under pressure to tighten its shoulder charge laws, particularly in the event where a player is coming from side on to force a collision.
And while the NSW State of Origin captain believed Slater was guilty of the charge, he expected the 35-year-old to be cleared by the panel.
"I always thought he would play. I think everyone did," Cordner said.
"Either way there was going to be some noise about it. Everyone, just move on.
We were preparing for Billy to play anyway."
Cordner also provided an update on the shoulder injury to teammate Cooper Cronk, saying there remains a small chance the two-time premiership-winner could play at ANZ Stadium.
"It doesn't look too good at the moment but there is a slight chance and if I was going to be backing anyone in to play it would be Cooper Cronk," Cordner said.
"Being in at training, especially yesterday, he's the first one on the physio table doing his rehab. He's leaving no stone unturned, and it wouldn't be a surprise to us if he does pull through."
AAP
