NRL Judiciary Round 26 (Saturday): Six players have been charged following Saturday’s matches, with Dolphins pair Thomas Flegler and Morgan Knowles facing suspension after being cited by the Match Review Committee.
The Match Review Committee reviewed incidents from Saturday’s Round 26 fixtures, issuing charges to players from the Rabbitohs, Dolphins and Wests Tigers.
The Dolphins accounted for half of the day’s charges, with two of those carrying suspension ramifications due to the nature of the offences and the players’ judiciary records.
NRL Judiciary Round 26 Saturday Charges
Match Review Committee Charges
| Player | Club | Incident | Grade | Early Plea | Panel |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Latrell Mitchell | Rabbitohs | Careless High Tackle | Grade 1 | $1,000 fine | $1,500 fine |
| Brandon Smith | Rabbitohs | Careless High Tackle | Grade 1 | $1,800 fine | $2,500 fine |
| Thomas Flegler | Dolphins | Crusher Tackle | Grade 1 | $3,000 fine | 2 matches |
| Kurt Donoghoe | Dolphins | Careless High Tackle | Grade 1 | $1,800 fine | $2,500 fine |
| Morgan Knowles | Dolphins | Dangerous Contact | Grade 1 | $3,000 fine | 2 matches |
| Junior Tupou | Wests Tigers | Crusher Tackle | Grade 1 | $1,000 fine | $1,500 fine |
Players Facing Suspension
- Thomas Flegler (Dolphins) – 2 match suspension if found guilty at panel.
- Morgan Knowles (Dolphins) – 2 match suspension if found guilty at panel.
Key Takeaways
- Six players were charged from Saturday’s Round 26 matches
- Two players are facing suspension
- The Dolphins accounted for three of the six charges issued
- Thomas Flegler and Morgan Knowles received the most significant penalties of the day
Thomas Flegler Charge Details
Flegler was charged with a Grade 1 crusher tackle following an incident in the 14th minute involving Salesi Foketi.
As a second offence within the judiciary’s rolling three-year period, the Dolphins forward faces a substantial penalty and the potential for suspension if the matter proceeds to panel.
Early Plea: $3,000 fine
If Found Guilty at Panel: 2 match suspension
Other Charges
- Morgan Knowles: Grade 1 dangerous contact (68th minute vs Robert Toia) – $3,000 early plea fine or 2-match suspension if found guilty at panel due to a third and subsequent offence record.
- Latrell Mitchell: Grade 1 careless high tackle (61st minute vs Keano Kini) – $1,000 early plea fine ($1,500 panel).
- Brandon Smith: Grade 1 careless high tackle (66th minute vs Phillip Sami) – $1,800 early plea fine ($2,500 panel) as a second offence.
- Kurt Donoghoe: Grade 1 careless high tackle (51st minute vs James Tedesco) – $1,800 early plea fine ($2,500 panel) as a second offence.
- Junior Tupou: Grade 1 crusher tackle (69th minute vs Heilum Luki) – $1,000 early plea fine ($1,500 panel) after qualifying for the incident-free discount.
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 27, with Flegler and Knowles currently the only players facing suspension from Saturday’s judiciary findings.
Related Coverage
- Full Round 26 coverage → /nrl/2026-season/round-26/
- NRL Round 26 Team Lists → /nrl-round-26-team-lists-2026/
- NRL Injury List → /nrl/injuries/
- NRL Judiciary Round 26 Thursday Charges → /nrl-judiciary-round-26-thursday-2026-charges/
- NRL Judiciary Round 26 Friday Charges → /nrl-judiciary-round-26-friday-2026-charges/
