With little to lose, Sydney Roosters superstar Sonny Bill Williams is tipped to roll the dice at the NRL judiciary, with his shoulder charge victim Willie Mason vowing to offer what assistance he can to his former teammate.
Williams is facing two weeks on the sidelines after being slapped with a grade three careless high tackle charge on Monday for his shoulder to the head which flattened Newcastle prop Mason on Sunday.
Prior to being charged, the dual international took to Twitter seeking assistance from Mason - the pair having both come into the top grade as teammates at Canterbury.
However the level of any assistance from Mason may not determine whether the Roosters contest the charge.
A challenge to the grading of the charge is most likely, given the star back-rower would face two weeks out whether he takes the early plea or unsuccessfully challenges the charge at a judiciary hearing.
The Roosters are not expected to make a decision until midday on Tuesday.
Williams initially posted a photo of his mangled finger on Monday, joking that Mason bit it after "he head butted my shoulder."
Mason replied that he was more worried about the calf injury he sustained against the Roosters, prompting Williams to issue his public plea.
"@mase21 chances on a sneaky phone call to the judiciary. #Helpabrotherout!! Hope the calf ain't serious big falla."
Mason replied with: "I'll do what I can bruh, u probably need a week to chill out and get that body rollin at a 100."
Roosters teammate Boyd Cordner admitted on Monday the loss of Williams for games against Penrith and Canberra would be a big blow as the tri-colours fight for the minor premiership.
With six games remaining the Roosters trail ladder-leaders and arch-rivals South Sydney by two competition points.
But Cordner was confident the Roosters could cope without Williams, as the premiership favourites showed in a 40-0 rout of Cronulla last weekend.
"Obviously Sonny's massive to our team and it would be a massive blow but I think, like we showed last week against the Sharks, we can perform without him," Cordner said on Monday.
The shoulder charge was an integral component of Williams' game during his first stint in the NRL, but the tackle was outlawed this year ahead of his return to the code.
He was charged over a shoulder charge on Parramatta's Matt Ryan earlier in the season but escaped suspension with an early guilty plea.
However the carry-over points from that pushed his penalty for an early plea on the Mason tackle beyond the mark for a two-week suspension.
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