Rugby League: NRL spares culprits from Warriors-Broncos brawl

SYDNEY - The NRL judiciary commissioner has decided not to charge anyone over the nasty brawl that erupted in the Warriors' match against the Brisbane Broncos on Sunday.

But commissioner Jim Hall has charged Warriors substitute Tevita Latu with a dangerous throw and he will miss Sunday's match against the Sydney Roosters should he decide not to contest the grade one charge.

Warriors Monty Betham and Wairangi Koopu, and Broncos Carl Webb and Casey MacGuire, were sinbinned by referee Bill Harrigan after the all-in brawl about six minutes before halftime in the match won 22-14 by the Warriors at Ericsson Stadium.

Warrior Awen Guttenbeil was another to figure prominently in the fight.

Photographs of the brawl featured in Sydney newspapers yesterday, but when the NRL released the list of players to be charged from the weekend's matches, Latu was the only player from either side named.

Neither Warriors coach Daniel Anderson nor Broncos coach Wayne Bennett had any criticism of Harrigan's handling of the brawl.

"Those things are always messy and untidy," Bennett said.

"You're in the middle of a football game and people are going to make quick decisions.

"I accepted it because both teams were probably as guilty as each other.

"Where you get your nose out of joint is where your bloke gets sinbinned but theirs doesn't."

Harrigan referred the entire incident to Hall, but it seems Hall is satisfied that Harrigan's actions at the time were sufficient penalty.

An NRL spokeswoman said Hall did not make any statement regarding the brawl.

Bennett was not sure about the tackle by Francis Meli that led to a groggy Brent Tate leaving the field.

He said the situation was not clear-cut, because Tate was falling at the time, "but surely there is an onus somewhere on the tackler."

Hall decided not to charge Meli over the tackle. Three Cronulla players, including captain David Peachey, were charged following their match against Parramatta on Saturday.

Peachey was sent off for the first time in his first-grade career during the 74-4 loss to Parramatta and could face a two-week ban after being charged with grade three contrary conduct by the judiciary.

He was dismissed for dissent early in the second half after clashing with referee Shayne Hayne.

Forwards Dale Newton and Reece Williams were charged with grade three and grade four careless high-tackle offences respectively.

Roosters five-eighth Chris Flannery was charged with a grade one dangerous throw from his side's 46-16 win against Manly.

- NZPA