NRL Match Review: Round 26

Several players have nervous waits ahead of the first week of finals after picking up charges in the last round of the regular season...

Newcastle's Tariq Sims has been cited for a Grade 2 Shoulder Charge in Saturday's wooden-spoon earning loss to Penrith. He will miss 5 games with an early guilty plea, or 7 games if he unsuccessfully contests the charge. Teammate Sione Mata'utia will miss one game after being issued with a Grade 1 Contrary Conduct charge.

Penrith's Tupou Sopoaga and Josh Mansour (Grade 1 Contrary Conduct) both escape suspension with an early plea but will miss a week if they contest unsuccessfully at the Judiciary.

Rooster pair James Maloney (Grade 1 tripping) and Kane Evans (Grade 1 Contrary Conduct) will both be free to play their sides' Qualifying Final on Friday against the Storm with low base charges for each offence.

Rabbitohs forward George Burgess has picked up a Grade 2 Contrary Conduct charge for throwing a bottle at an opposition player in his side's 30-0 loss to the Roosters. He'll miss two games - this Sunday's Elimination Final against the Sharks and any subsequent Rabbitohs finals game, or the first England test in the post-season should South Sydney lose this weekend.

Two Wests Tigers players picked up charges from their loss to the Dragons on Saturday - Dene Halatau will miss a game next season after being hit with two charges within seven minutes - Grade 1 Careless High Tackle & Shoulder Charge. If he challenges both and loses he could miss two games. Luke Brooks will miss the first game of next season after a Grade 1 Dangerous Throw just after halftime.

Lastly, Gold Coast's Luke Douglas will miss no games with an early plea for a Grade 1 Dangerous Contact (Head/Neck) charge on Cowboys' fullback Lachlan Coote.