Match Review Committee Hands Down Further Round 6 Charges
Haumole Olakau’atu and Patrick Carrigan have been charged by the NRL Match Review Committee following Friday night’s Round 6 matches in the 2026 NRL season.
Carrigan is facing a suspension in a major blow for Brisbane, while Olakau’atu has been hit with a financial penalty for a high tackle offence.
Match Review Committee Charges
| Player | Club | Incident | Grade | Early Plea | Panel Penalty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Haumole Olakau’atu | Sea Eagles | Careless High Tackle on Jacob Liddle | Grade 1 | $1,000 | $1,500 |
| Patrick Carrigan | Broncos | Careless High Tackle on Tom Chester | Grade 2 | 2 matches | 3 matches |
Players Charged in Round 6 (Friday)
- Haumole Olakau’atu – Careless High Tackle (Grade 1)
- Patrick Carrigan – Careless High Tackle (Grade 2)
Key Charge
Patrick Carrigan (Broncos)
Carrigan has been charged with a Grade 2 Careless High Tackle following an incident involving Tom Chester early in the match.
Due to it being his second offence on record, the Broncos forward is facing a significant suspension.
- Early Plea: 2-match suspension
- If Guilty at Panel: 3-match suspension
The suspension comes at a difficult time for Brisbane, who are already dealing with a mounting injury list.
The Broncos are currently without Reece Walsh, Ben Hunt, Billy Walters and Adam Reynolds, while Blake Mozer and Cory Paix were also injured in the loss to North Queensland at Suncorp Stadium.
Other Charge
Haumole Olakau’atu (Sea Eagles)
Olakau’atu has been charged with a Grade 1 Careless High Tackle following contact involving Jacob Liddle.
- Early Plea: $1,000 fine
- If Guilty at Panel: $1,500 fine
What Happens Next
The charged players must decide whether to:
- Accept the early guilty plea, or
- Challenge the charge at the NRL Judiciary panel.
Any contested charges will be heard early next week.
