NRL Judiciary Round 26 (Sunday): Three players have been charged following Sunday’s matches, with Knights prop Jacob Saifiti facing a lengthy suspension after being sent off in Newcastle’s defeat.
The Match Review Committee reviewed incidents from Sunday’s Round 26 fixtures, issuing charges to Jacob Saifiti, Junior Paulo and Thomas Hazelton.
Saifiti received the most serious charge of the day after being hit with a Grade 2 reckless high tackle, while Sharks forward Thomas Hazelton is also facing suspension following Cronulla’s loss to Parramatta.
NRL Judiciary Round 26 Sunday Charges
Match Review Committee Charges
| Player | Club | Incident | Grade | Early Plea | Panel |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jacob Saifiti | Knights | Reckless High Tackle | Grade 2 | 4 matches | 5 matches |
| Junior Paulo | Eels | Dangerous Contact | Grade 1 | $1,800 fine | $2,500 fine |
| Thomas Hazelton | Sharks | Dangerous Contact | Grade 2 | 1 match suspension | 2 matches |
Players Facing Suspension
- Jacob Saifiti (Knights) – 4 match suspension (5 matches if found guilty at panel).
- Thomas Hazelton (Sharks) – 1 match suspension (2 matches if found guilty at panel).
Key Takeaways
- Three players were charged from Sunday’s Round 26 matches
- Two players are facing suspension
- Jacob Saifiti received the most serious charge of the weekend
- Thomas Hazelton is set to miss Cronulla’s clash with Melbourne if he accepts an early plea
Jacob Saifiti Charge Details
Saifiti was charged with a Grade 2 reckless high tackle following an incident in the 13th minute involving Luke Laulilii.
The Knights prop was sent off for the tackle with Newcastle leading 10-0 at the time of the incident.
Despite playing the majority of the match with 12 men, Newcastle produced a spirited performance before eventually going down 46-32.
The severity of the charge means Saifiti is facing one of the largest suspensions handed down this season.
Early Plea: 4 match suspension
If Found Guilty at Panel: 5 match suspension
Other Charges
- Thomas Hazelton: Grade 2 dangerous contact (74th minute vs Ronald Volkman) – 1 match suspension with an early plea or 2 matches if found guilty at panel. Hazelton was charged during Cronulla’s 38-18 defeat to Parramatta and is set to miss next week’s clash against Melbourne if he accepts the early plea.
- Junior Paulo: Grade 1 dangerous contact (12th minute vs Addin Fonua-Blake) – $1,800 early plea fine ($2,500 panel) as a second offence within the judiciary’s rolling three-year period.
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 Saifiti facing a minimum four-match ban and Hazelton potentially sidelined for Cronulla’s crucial clash with Melbourne.
Junior Paulo can resolve his charge via a financial penalty and is not facing suspension.
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/
- NRL Judiciary Round 26 Saturday Charges → /nrl-judiciary-round-26-saturday-2026-charges/
- NRL Round 26 Review → /nrl-round-26-review-2026/
