The NRL's match review committee claims Gold Coast fullback Jayden Campbell didn't act carelessly in a collision that left Parramatta winger Sean Russell with a punctured lung and fractured ribs.
Russell spent Sunday night in hospital after the teenager's dream hat-trick turned sour, collected by Campbell's knees as he scored his third try and is now out indefinitely.
Campbell was however not charged by the match review committee on Monday, as they ruled he had made accidental knee contact as his arm simultaneously hit the ball in a bid to save a try.
"The match review committee believed there was forcible contact obviously, however, they did not deem the actions of Jayden Campbell to be careless," NRL head of football Graham Annesley said.
"They form the view that Campbell made contact while attempting to stop Sean Russell from scoring by attempting to dislodge the ball from Russell who at that stage had lowered his body well before the goal line.
"They did not believe Campbell dangerously led with his knees.
"They felt their review showed Campbell lowering his body and leading with his arm and a genuine attempt to stop the try from being scored."
Annesley also said he was comfortable with the lack of bans for cannonballs.
Wests Tigers second-rower Luciano Leliua was clearly hurt after being hit low by Melbourne forward Trent Loiero on Saturday night while fighting in a tackle, with Loiero escaping with a fine.
It came after Lindsay Collins copped a similar penalty for a cannonball on Jackson Hastings in a trial.
Annesley said a number of factors came into charges for cannonballs when players attack the legs of a player being held, including the force and angle of contact and if there was a serious injury.
"This is this is an area of the game where it does have a high focus," he said.
"But just like high tackling and other judges in the game, there are incidents that fall into the minor category.
"If you think about a knee as a hinge, if you hit the player from behind, then that's the natural folding action of a knee.
"Coming from the side a knee is not designed to hinge sideways."
Meanwhile the NRL will investigate whether Titans coach Justin Holbrook will be fined for comments made after the loss, complaining his side had not got the 50-50 calls in the 32-28 loss.
Holbrook's suggestion that was linked to them not being "one of the big clubs" did raise eyebrows at the NRL, but there is a chance he could escape with a warning.
But Annesley did concede time should have been blown off late in the match as Mitch Moses watched the clock while waiting to kick a penalty goal.
