LeagueNews.co | Jason Patrick
The Canterbury Bulldogs and Melbourne Storm managed to avoid any player suspensions following their match in the 2025 NRL Finals, with only one player facing a fine.
Despite several dangerous tackles during the game-including a hip drop and a high shot-only Josh Curran received a charge from the match review committee (MRC).
Curran has been charged with a Grade 1 Careless High Tackle for an incident involving opposing centre Jack Howarth, which could result in a fine ranging from $1800 to $2500.
Melbourne coach Craig Bellamy expressed his belief that Jaeman Salmon should have been penalized for a hip-drop tackle on Cameron Munster, but no action was taken against him.
"The one thing I noticed today, it might have been slow play-the-balls, it might not have been. But it seems as though the league has come (to) a different opinion of hip drops now," Bellamy stated after the match.
"I don't think any player goes out there to drop their hip on the back of someone's legs, but in the past we've had players at other clubs be suspended for that."
"All of a sudden, now it seems to be an accident. That's what I took out of the game."