NRL Judiciary Round 20 (Saturday): Eight players have been charged following Saturday’s matches, with four players facing suspension after being cited for Grade 2 and Grade 3 offences.
The Match Review Committee reviewed incidents from Saturday’s Round 20 fixtures, with players from the Raiders, Rabbitohs, Tigers and Bulldogs among those charged. Suspension threats dominate the day’s judiciary findings, headlined by Tigers forward Latu Fainu’s Grade 3 dangerous contact charge.
NRL Judiciary Round 20 Saturday Charges
Match Review Committee Charges
| Player | Club | Incident | Grade | Early Plea | Panel |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Owen Pattie | Raiders | Dangerous Contact | Grade 2 | 1 match suspension | 2 matches |
| Ethan Strange | Raiders | Careless High Tackle | Grade 1 | $1,000 fine | $1,500 fine |
| David Fifita | Rabbitohs | Dangerous Contact | Grade 2 | 1 match suspension | 2 matches |
| Heamasi Makasini | Tigers | Careless High Tackle | Grade 1 | $1,000 fine | $1,500 fine |
| Enari Tuala | Bulldogs | Careless High Tackle | Grade 1 | $750 fine | $1,000 fine |
| Adam Doueihi | Tigers | Careless High Tackle | Grade 2 | 1 match suspension | 2 matches |
| Latu Fainu | Tigers | Dangerous Contact | Grade 3 | 2 match suspension | 3 matches |
| Alex Twal | Tigers | Contrary Conduct | Grade 1 | $1,800 fine | $2,500 fine |
Players Facing Suspension
- Latu Fainu (Tigers) – 2 match suspension (3 matches if found guilty at panel)
- Owen Pattie (Raiders) – 1 match suspension (2 matches if found guilty at panel)
- David Fifita (Rabbitohs) – 1 match suspension (2 matches if found guilty at panel)
- Adam Doueihi (Tigers) – 1 match suspension (2 matches if found guilty at panel)
Key Takeaways
- Eight players were charged from Saturday’s Round 20 matches
- Four players are facing suspension
- Latu Fainu received the most serious charge with a Grade 3 dangerous contact offence
- The Tigers accounted for four of the eight charges issued by the Match Review Committee
Latu Fainu Charge Details
Fainu has been charged with a Grade 3 dangerous contact offence following an incident in the 64th minute involving Leo Thompson.
The Tigers forward received the most significant charge from Saturday’s matches and is facing a suspension regardless of whether he accepts the early plea.
Early Plea: 2 match suspension
If Found Guilty at Panel: 3 match suspension
Other Charges
- Owen Pattie: Grade 2 dangerous contact (20th minute vs Keaon Koloamatangi) – 1 match early plea (2 matches at panel).
- Ethan Strange: Grade 1 careless high tackle (32nd minute vs Campbell Graham) – $1,000 early plea fine ($1,500 panel).
- David Fifita: Grade 2 dangerous contact (41st minute vs Hudson Young) – 1 match early plea (2 matches at panel).
- Heamasi Makasini: Grade 1 careless high tackle (13th minute vs Connor Tracey) – $1,000 early plea fine ($1,500 panel).
- Enari Tuala: Grade 1 careless high tackle (40th minute vs Jahream Bula) – $750 early plea fine ($1,000 panel) with an incident-free discount.
- Adam Doueihi: Grade 2 careless high tackle (54th minute vs Harry Hayes) – 1 match early plea (2 matches at panel).
- Alex Twal: Grade 1 contrary conduct (70th minute vs Jaeman Salmon) – $1,800 early plea fine ($2,500 panel) as a second offence.
What Happens Next
Players charged by the NRL Match Review Committee will now decide whether to:
- accept the early guilty plea and associated penalty, or
- challenge the charge at the NRL Judiciary panel.
Any hearings will take place ahead of Round 21, with four players currently at risk of suspension.
Related Coverage
- NRL Round 20 Team Lists /nrl-round-20-team-lists-2026/
- NRL Round 20 Tips and Predictions /nrl-round-20-predictions-2026/
- NRL Round 20 Hub /nrl-round-20-2026/
- NRL Round 20 Thursday Night Charges /nrl-judiciary-round-20-thursday-2026-charges/
- NRL Round 20 Friday Night Charges /nrl-judiciary-round-20-friday-2026-charges/
