Arvo Wrap

Cronulla have signed Penrith prop Bryan Norrie on a two-year deal, covering the loss of Craig Stapleton to Salford in England. Norrie, 23, joins the Sharks after two consistent years playing first-grade at Penrith.

He will cover the loss of Stapleton, who last week agreed to terms with Salford in the English Super League and was granted a release by Cronulla.

Norrie completes formidable front row depth at the Sharks next season joining former Panther Ben Ross, Luke Douglas, Jacob Selmes and highly rated Newcastle prop Kade Snowden.

Elsewhere, Melbourne coach Craig Bellamy has accused other clubs of using the grapple tackle issue to seek an unfair advantage in matches against the Storm.

The grapple tackle controversy has flared again in recent weeks with competition leader Melbourne subject to claims from premier Brisbane after their weekend clash that the Storm constantly use the technique.

The NRL yesterday made an alteration to its guidelines for adjudicating the tackling rules.

But Bellamy says other clubs tackle in the same way as the Storm and he believes it is a tactic by opposition coaches to try to influence referees to watch his side more closely.

At the judiciary, North Queensland forward Sione Faumuina will contest a high tackle charge at the NRL judiciary tonight, risking a certain end to his season.

Faumuina faces a grade two reckless high tackle charge for his swinging arm on Penrith's Luke Priddis on Monday night. If found guilty, Faumuina will cop a seven-week ban, ruling him out of the rest season even if the Cowboys make the grand final.

But the Cowboys have notified the NRL they are willing to plead guilty to a lesser careless high tackle charge in an attempt to reduce his suspension.

By not pleading guilty to the reckless charge, Faumuina has forfeited a possible five-game ban which would have put him out until the third week of the finals. He will now either be ousted for seven matches (if guilty of a reckless high tackle) or given a downgraded charge and a lesser penalty.

Faumuina will appear via video conference from Townsville for tonight's hearing starting at 6pm AEST.