NRL not wasting any time in handing down punishments after latest brawl.
St George Illawarra and NSW prop Trent Merrin it set to miss one game after being charged with a grade one striking offcence in the second State of Origin match.
Merrin was hit with the ban after he connected with at least two punches when he looked to fight Queensland centre Brent Tate.
Merrin was sin-binned for his role in the fight along with three other players, which was in line wit the NRL’s new tougher no-punching policy.
The Dragons forward earned 112 points from the incident and with an early plea he will be free to play in his club’s game against Penrith this weekend.
Brisbane centre Justin Hodges, who was also sent from the field for his part in the fight, was charged with contrary conduct and earned 93 points, but will be right to play for the Broncos this weekend.
Leading up to the fight, Queensland fullback Billy Slater hit NSW playmaker Mitchell Pearce with an elbow in attempting to get up from a tackle.
The NRL match review panel said Slater did not have a case to answer as they deemed the contact with Pearce’s head as accidental.
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