Mateo free to play against Warriors

Parramatta five-eighth Feleti Mateo is free to play in Sunday's NRL match against the New Zealand Warriors after accepting the early guilty plea on his grapple tackle charge.

The early plea will incur only a 93 point penalty, freeing Mateo to take his place alongside half-back Brett Finch against the Warriors in Auckland.

Parramatta's other halfback option, Tim Smith, will continue his recovery from a shoulder operation by playing for Parramatta's NSW Cup side this weekend.