Parramatta forward Manu Ma’u and his Gold Coast counterpart Ryan James were exonerated at the NRL judiciary on Wednesday night and are free to play in their respective round-five fixtures.
Ma’u beat a dangerous contact charge for a tackle on Wests Tigers forward Josh Aloiai, who gave evidence on his behalf.
Ma’u had faced two weeks on the sidelines if found guilty. He is now free to play Penrith at Pirtek Stadium on Sunday.
“I’m grateful to the panel for hearing me out, and also to Josh for making the effort to come and tell his side of the story,” Ma’u said.
James was found not guilty of a dangerous contact charge for an alleged leg-twist on Canberra’s Jordan Rapana.
He had faced a week on the sidelines if found guilty. He is now free to play Brisbane on the Gold Coast on Friday night.
Meanwhile Melbourne’s Marika Koroibete will miss one game after pleading guilty earlier on Wednesday to a trip on Cronulla’s Chad Townsend.
Parrafan
Guest
Scott was charged but appealed and found not guilty. In all honesty Scott even being sited was ridiculous.
MAX
Guest
Would love to see their meetings televised on the dedicated chanel in 2017
fazed
Roar Rookie
Charges this year have been ridiculous, but not as much as the penalties for those who are guilty. Ma'u should have appealed against his first charge this year when he accepted a one match suspension, it was a nothing as well, NQ's Matt Scotts shot was worse but not charged. Tapou gets a week for a blatant swinging arm to the head., Seriously? Foran accepts guilty plea for touching a ref, when how many others were not mentioned????? This is the new consistency. They have to be joking.
Parrafan
Guest
In all honesty I think the MRC are too incompetent to formulate and carry out some sort of conspiracy.
Casper
Guest
Looks like nobody will be found guilty at this level, only guys getting suspended are the ones taking a plea. Have the people on the MRC got a different rule book to the judiciary?
MAX
Guest
Agreed Parrafan. Makes you wonder how many inconsistencies are needed to make a conspiracy.
Parrafan
Guest
The charge against Ma'u was disgraceful given Kyle Lovett did a crusher tackle much worse and had a swinging arm and didn't even get cited by the MRC. Big wraps on former Eel Josh Aloiai coming in to defend Ma'u. Showed some great character. Not calling conspiracy but can we please have consistency.