The career of Travis Burns may very well be on the line when he fronts the NRL judiciary next week.
Already outed for three weeks after submitting an early guilty plea to a Grade 2 Dangerous Contact Charge, Burns was given extra time to prepare his fight against an Intentional High Tackle charge.
Should he be found guilty, Burns faces an additional 12 match suspension that would see him miss a huge chunk of the 2013 season.
And some are suggesting that such a suspension could end the 28-year-old’s time at Penrith.
Off-contract next year, Burns is already in a battle to retain his five-eighth position after Lachlan Coote was successfully trialled in the number six jumper against the Roosters last Sunday.
Burns hit Roosters forward Martin Kennedy with a sickening high shot 10 minutes from full time last Sunday and became just the second player this season to be sent off.
He’ll argue at the judiciary next Wednesday night that the tackle was not intentional.
Burns would have usually had his case dealt with this week but given he was already outed for the Dangerous Contact charge, the NRL agreed to give him an extra week.
“In seeking the application to have the Intentional High Tackle charge heard next week, legal representatives for Travis have submitted a Notice of Preparedness to Plead to a Lesser Charge or Grading,” an NRL statement said.
“They have indicated that Burns will plead guilty to a Reckless High Tackle.
“The effect of such a notice is that if a player is found guilty at the level and grade of charge submitted in the notice then, he is entitled to the benefits of an ‘early guilty plea’ (25 per cent discount).
“If he is found guilty of a higher charge than that specified in his ‘notice’, he does not receive the ‘early plea’ discount.”
