Following Wednesday night’s fiercely contested State of Origin clash in Perth, which ended in a narrow 26-24 victory to Queensland, two New South Wales players have found themselves in hot water with the NRL judiciary. Jarome Luai and Zac Lomax, both key backs for the Westpac NSW Blues, have been cited for separate incidents during the high-stakes match.
Jarome Luai’s Charge: Grade 2 Contrary Conduct
Jarome Luai, who featured prominently in the Blues’ campaign, was cited for an alleged eye gouge on Queensland second-rower Reuben Cotter. The incident occurred in the 22nd minute of the match and was reviewed post-game by the match review committee. Luai was subsequently handed a Grade 2 Contrary Conduct charge, which carries a monetary penalty of $3,900. This fine represents 13% of the $30,000 Origin match fee players receive for representing their state.
Despite the charge, Luai remains eligible to play for his club side, the Wests Tigers, in their upcoming Friday night fixture against the Canberra Raiders. He retains the option of contesting the judiciary’s decision but would risk a more severe financial penalty if his challenge fails.
Zac Lomax’s Charge: Grade 1 Dangerous Contact
Zac Lomax, another key figure in the NSW backline, also attracted disciplinary attention following an incident in the 28th minute of the game. Lomax was cited for lashing out with his forearm during a tackle on Queensland’s lock, Trent Loiero. This action earned him a Grade 1 Dangerous Contact charge, resulting in a fine of $2,100, or 7% of his match payment.
Like Luai, Lomax remains available for club duties and is expected to line up for the Parramatta Eels in their Sunday evening encounter with the Gold Coast Titans. He, too, can challenge the charge at the judiciary, though an unsuccessful defense would lead to an increased fine.
Kaufusi Banned for Two Games
In addition to the Origin-related charges, several other incidents across the NRL competition have drawn attention from the judiciary this week. Dolphins veteran forward Felise Kaufusi has been suspended for two matches following a dangerous contact incident during his side’s match against the North Queensland Cowboys. Kaufusi was sin-binned in the 12th minute after an illegal hit on Cowboys debutant Tom Duffy.
The judiciary handed Kaufusi a Grade 3 Dangerous Contact charge, and the experienced forward opted to accept the charge with an early guilty plea. As a result, he will miss the Dolphins’ upcoming games against the Newcastle Knights and South Sydney Rabbitohs. Due to the Dolphins having a bye in Round 18, Kaufusi will be eligible to return in Round 19.
Bulldogs Pair Penalized for High Contact
Elsewhere, the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs have had two of their forwards fined following high contact incidents in their Round 15 win over the South Sydney Rabbitohs. Josh Curran, who has previously faced disciplinary action, was charged with his third Grade 1 Careless High Tackle offense of the season after a 26th-minute tackle on Jamie Humphreys. Curran has accepted a $3,000 fine by entering an early guilty plea.
Jake Turpin, also from the Bulldogs’ forward pack, was cited for a separate high tackle in the same game. He was charged with a Grade 1 Careless High Tackle and opted for an early guilty plea as well, resulting in a $1,000 fine.
Knights and Sharks Players Also Fined
The Newcastle Knights were also impacted by judiciary decisions this week, with forward Thomas Cant being fined $1,000 for a Grade 1 Careless High Tackle. Like others, Cant chose to accept an early guilty plea, avoiding further suspension and maintaining eligibility for selection in the next round.
Sharks playmaker Braydon Trindall has likewise been fined for a separate incident during Cronulla’s recent win over the St. George Illawarra Dragons. Trindall was charged with Dangerous Contact and received an $1,800 fine. His decision to accept the charge means he will be free to play in upcoming matches.
Summary of Judiciary Outcomes
The post-Origin fallout and a series of on-field incidents in NRL club fixtures have led to a busy week for the NRL judiciary, with a total of eight players facing charges. Among the most notable are the NSW Origin duo of Luai and Lomax, both of whom escaped suspension but now face financial penalties unless they successfully challenge their charges.
Felise Kaufusi’s suspension is the most significant in terms of match bans, and his absence will be a blow to the Dolphins’ forward rotation over the next two rounds. Meanwhile, fines continue to be the judiciary’s primary method for punishing lower-grade offenses, as demonstrated by penalties handed down to players from the Bulldogs, Knights, and Sharks.
Clubs across the competition will now need to adapt to these judiciary outcomes as they prepare for Round 16. While no suspensions have been issued for the Origin players involved, the possibility of increased penalties looms should any of them choose to fight their charges and fail in their defense.
This week’s judiciary activity serves as a reminder of the physicality and intensity of both the Origin arena and the NRL competition as a whole. The league remains committed to player safety and enforcing the rules through monetary sanctions and suspensions where necessary. As the season continues, all players will need to tread carefully to avoid further run-ins with the match review committee.
