The new anti-tampering regulations in the NRL have claimed their first notable casualty.
Both Mal Meninga and the Perth Bears have faced penalties due to remarks made about their intention to acquire Bulldogs players Matt Burton and Jacob Preston.
According to a report by CODE Sports, sanctions were finalized by the NRL on Friday, resulting in fines of $20,000 each for the Bears and Meninga; however, Meninga's penalty has been put on hold.
This situation stems from comments Meninga made to CODE earlier this year, where he mentioned Preston and Burton during a conversation about potential marquee signings for the upcoming season.