The NRL match review committee has determined that Cameron Munster has no case to answer after Queensland teammate Sam Walker accused him of a shoulder charge on Saturday night. Walker cried foul after a hit from Munster that eventually led to a Storm try in their 18-4 victory over the Roosters.
With the Roosters peppering the Storm line at 6-4 in the second half, Walker tried to put in a grubber but was hit by Munster. Sua Fa’alogo then raced downfield and Jahrome Hughes laid on a try for Will Warbrick with a lovely kick on the next play.
Walker remonstrated with referee Grant Atkins and claimed Munster had shoulder charged him – the same act that saw Kalyn Ponga sent off in State of Origin 1. Walker’s pleas fell on deaf ears, but replays appeared to show he might have had a case.
Munster hit Walker with his left shoulder while that arm was tucked, although he was saved by the fact he made first contact with his right hand. However there was no real ‘wrapping’ motion from Munster, and it might have caused some nervous moments for Billy Slater ahead of Origin 2.
Sam Walker claimed Cameron Munster shoulder charged him. Image: Fox LeagueBut Munster escaped a sanction from the MRC on Sunday and wasn’t even hit with a fine. The only players charged from Saturday’s games were Sitili Tupounuia for a shoulder charge on Heamasi Makasini ($3000) and Siua Wong for contrary conduct on Munster ($1800). It means Munster is free to play State of Origin 2 at this stage.
Kalyn Ponga shines for Knights after avoiding suspension
Shoulder charges have been the talk of the NRL world this week after Ponga’s send-off in Game 1. Despite being hit with a Grade 2 charge on Wednesday night, Ponga escaped suspension due to a recent NRL rule change. Only a Grade 3 charge or above triggers a suspension from an incident that occurred in a representative game.
Kalyn Ponga was sent off in State of Origin 1 but avoided a suspension.The NRL changed the rules in 2022 to give greater leniency to rep incidents because they didn’t want to punish the players’ club team. If Ponga’s hit had occurred in a regular NRL game he’d have faced a two-game suspension, but he got off with a $6900 fine because it happened in Origin.
Ponga was free to play for Newcastle against Parramatta on Saturday. He helped lead the Knights to a 28-22 victory and will be keen to atone for his send-off in Origin 2.