Melbourne Storm prop Brett White is free to play in Sunday's NRL grand final after being cleared of elbowing Cronulla's Ben Ross during last weekend's preliminary final.
White was put on report for the incident, and faced the prospect of missing the grand final against Manly if charged.
But the Storm confirmed yesterday the NRL had found White had no case to answer and would be free to play.
Immediately after being cleared, White also took the extraordinary step of denying claims of an off-field rift with Ross that has contributed to their on-field fireworks this season.
White and Ross were once St George Illawarra teammates and were rumoured to have fallen out over a woman.
White copped a four-week ban for punching Ross this season, and the pair were embroiled again in the Storm's 28-0 preliminary final shutout of the Sharks.
"There's been a lot of rumours been going around about off-field incidents going on between Ben Ross and I just want to clear that up," White said yesterday. "We've never lived together, we've never had a run-in off the field, there's never been any drama. I want to squash that here now.
"I had faith they [the match review panel] would see the incident for what it was - that there was no malicious intent."
Manly coach Des Hasler says all three of his injured players will definitely play in the grand final.
Halfback Matt Orford has an ankle injury, centre Steve Matai a shoulder complaint and lock Glenn Stewart a corked leg. The trio were injured during Manly's 32-6 preliminary final win over the Warriors on Saturday but are expected to resume training with the rest of the squad.
Tony Archer was yesterday appointed referee for the grand final.
It is Archer's second grand final in as many years.
- AAP
