Round 11 of the NRL began with a bang on Thursday night as the Melbourne Storm extended their winning streak over the Brisbane Broncos to 13 matches following a fiery affair.
Despite going unpunished during the game, Reece Walshed was ultimately punished by the judiciary for a shoulder charge.
Three players - including two Dragons - were charged following Saturday's slate of matches.
Below, The Sporting News wraps up all the judiciary charges from the week.
MORE: Kevin Walters provides update on Adam Reynolds following Brisbane loss
Manly forward escapes ban for high tackle
Sea Eagles prop Taniela Paseka will escape suspension for a high shot in his side's loss to Cronulla.
The front-rower was hit with a grade on careless high tackle for an incident involving Sione Katoa, and will be fined $1800 with an early guilty plea.
If the club and Paseka opt to fight the charge and lose, he will be fined $2500 by the match review committee.
Dragons duo fined following Cowboys clash
St. George Illawarra Dragons pair Toby Couchman and Jaydn Su'a have both dodged suspension following their respective incidents on Saturday night.
Couchman was reviewed for a hip drop action of North Queensland Cowboys winger Kyle Feldt but was not sin-binned during the game. He has, however, picked up a $1,000 (with an early guilty plea) since it's his first offence.
As for Su'a, he was charged with a high tackle on Murray Taulagi. He will need to pay a $3,000 fine or face a two-match suspension should he unsuccessfully challenge.
No suspension for Paulo after Tapine tackle
Junior Paulo has escaped without a ban following his tackle of Canberra Raiders player Joseph Tapine.
The Parramatta Eels enforcer came into the tackle late, grabbing one of Tapine's legs, leading to him falling awkwardly.
With an early guilty plea, Paulo will be required to pay an $1,800 fine.
Walsh fined for shoulder charge, Carrigan avoids punishment for hip drop
There were a number of controversial moments throughout Thursday evening's clash between the Storm and Broncos, but only one player was ultimately charged by the NRL's judiciary.
That was Reece Walsh, who was handed a $1,500 fine (with an early guilty plea) for his shoulder charge on Melbourne centre Justin Olam.
On the night, Walsh's try-saving hit was deemed to be fair contact.
Watch the incident below:
NO TRY for the Storm after a last ditch effort saves it on the line.
— Fox League (@FOXNRL) May 11, 2023
📺 Watch #NRLStormBroncos on ch. 502 or stream on Kayo: https://t.co/AatFxsM0NY
✍️ BLOG: https://t.co/Os3H4ozKSM
🔢 MATCH CENTRE: https://t.co/4Wv55PvKbL pic.twitter.com/golKAMR59X
Elsewhere, Brisbane enforcer Patrick Carrigan was not charged after being sin-binned for a hip drop tackle.
The incident led to plenty of post-match debate, with Broncos coach Kevin Walters struggling to hide his frustration.
"He slid down his legs!" Walters said.
"You would not see that happen in a grand final – someone getting sin-binned for that."
"This is a contact sport," Carrigan's teammate Kurt Capewell added.
"You get into some positions sometimes and it’s accidental. He was making a conscious effort definitely to slide down the legs, which is probably a point of difference."
"That’s what the NRL want you to do now," Walters interjected. "Slide down the legs."
Carrigan - who was suspended for a hip drop tackle last year - previously admitted players were still struggling to adjust to using techniques to try and avoid hip drop incidents.
"We are working to try and not get in those positions and be better when you are under fatigue," Carrigan said after Brisbane duo Payne Haas and Ezra Mam were both suspended for hip drop tackles in Round 8.
"It is a tough one. Some are unavoidable.
"I think the NRL are learning on the run, as much as the players are. Sometimes accidents happen and there probably needs to be a little compromise in that regard."
