Trent Robinson claims Jared Waerea-Hargreaves already faces a trial by media after South Sydney players accused him of tripping James Roberts.
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Waerea-Hargreaves faces a nervous wait on Saturday morning, with the knowledge any charge could rule him out of the preliminary final.
A crucial cog for the Roosters' up front in their 30-6 win, Waerea-Hargreaves earned the ire of Rabbitohs players when he appeared to raise his leg and bring Roberts down.
Roberts dropped the ball and the play was not called up by referees. Waerea-Hargreaves was not put on report over the incident.
"I just walked past and I saw the trial by media already happening," Robinson said post-match.
"I saw someone looking at a phone and Channel Nine playing it over and over and over again. That was as much as I've seen.
"That's where we're at. I don't think my opinion (will matter). The speed of play and all of that. My opinion is not going to count if we've already started doing all that."
While a grade-one trip usually only attracts a fine, Waerea-Hargreaves has had three convictions this year and is not eligible for a monetary penalty.
Weighting and carry-over points would mean Waerea-Hargreaves would miss a match with a ban, although there is no risk of it extending into the grand final.
Waerea-Hargreaves was able to play Friday night's qualifying final after he beat a careless high tackle charge at the NRL judiciary on Tuesday.
He was one of the Roosters' best, running more than 100 metres in his opening stint to give the defending premiers early momentum and a 16-0 lead when he came off.
The Roosters faced a similar issue at this same point last year, with Latrell Mitchell failing to beat a crusher tackle charge to play Souths in the 2018 preliminary final.
Australian Associated Press
