LeagueNews.co | Jason Patrick
Melbourne Storm's Trent Loiero is set to begin the 2026 NRL season on the sidelines unless he can successfully challenge his charges at the NRL judiciary.
Loiero received a sin binning for a high tackle on Brisbane's Brendan Piakura during the final minutes of Sunday's grand final. As a result, the NRL match review committee has handed him a Grade 2 careless high tackle charge.
This being his second offence means he faces a two-match suspension with an early guilty plea, or three matches if found guilty. Additionally, Loiero will not have any matches reduced for representative duties this season, meaning his return could be pushed back to Round 3 or Round 4 of next year if he contests and loses the charge.
Loiero is currently the only player facing suspension from the grand final, while three others received fines. Interestingly, Harry Grant was not among those suspended. Referee Grant Atkins and bunker official Ashley Klein controversially penalized the Melbourne and Australian dummy half for a trip, despite the NRL's previous stance that they would only review multiple plays to penalize serious acts of foul play.