Newcastle officially to appeal Perry
suspension

Newcastle has officially decided to appeal the one-match suspension of prop Josh Perry for raking the face of Wests Tigers centre Terry Hill.

National Rugby League director of media John Brady says the Knights informed the NRL last night they will today make representation to judiciary chairman Judge Greg Woods.

Brady says the judge will call on judiciary commissioner Jim Hall to make a submission in light of the appeal and decide if there are grounds to proceed to an appeals tribunal hearing. If required, the three-man appeals tribunal will sit as soon as possible and hopefully before Newcastle's match against Melbourne at Olympic Park on Saturday.

The tribunal will be comprised of a player's representative, a referee's representative and an independent chairman.

Perry was found guilty of contrary conduct at the NRL judiciary last night after facing an allegation of eye-gouging Hill in a match at EnergyAustralia Stadium last Saturday.

Perry's absence has come at a bad time for Newcastle. The team has named a line-up featuring a host of rookies and devoid of five internationals, including captain Andrew Johns, to tackle Melbourne on Saturday.