Newcastle prop David Klemmer has escaped suspension despite being sent off for making what the referee called "reckless contact" with Daniel Suluka-Fifita in South Sydney's defeat of the Knights.
Klemmer became involved in a scuffle with second-rower Keaon Koloamatangi behind the play in the minutes before full-time and attracted the attention of the referee after appearing to contact Suluka-Fifita's head with his elbow during a tackle.
The contact sparked a melee that culminated in Klemmer being sent from the field.
The match review committee handed down its charges on Saturday morning and categorised Klemmer's clash with Suluka-Fifita as grade one dangerous contact - the last severe grading for a dangerous contact offence.
Klemmer can accept a $1,000 fine with an early guilty plea but risks handing over $1,500 if he chooses to challenge the charge.
Of the 21 players sent off in the past 10 seasons, Klemmer has become only the third to escape suspension, after David Shillington in 2015 and Kobe Hetherington last year.
Klemmer apologised to his teammates in the sheds after the game and coach Adam O'Brien suggested his prop's emotions had gotten the better of him on the field.
"He's got a high care factor, Klem," he said.
"He was frustrated and let his emotions take over there."
O'Brien wondered whether Klemmer's earlier confrontation with Koloamatangi may have played a part in referee Todd Smith's decision to send him off.
"Whether it was just to calm things down because he'd been involved in something earlier, I think that was probably the case," he said.
Rabbitohs fullback Latrell Mitchell became involved in the fracas at full-time despite being named captain for the night.
Mitchell believed he had a duty as a leader to defend his teammates at all costs.
"Everyone gets emotional," he said.
"As a captain, as a leader, I've got to stick up in those situations. Regardless of how it looks, I'm always there for my teammates. That's who I am."
No other players were charged by the match review committee, despite Mitchell and Thomas Burgess being placed on report for high tackles.
At full-time, Souths coach Jason Demetriou said it was "ridiculous" Mitchell had been reported for what he felt was light contact with Knights winger Dom Young.
"We asked Latrell to protect our line and that's what he did," Demetriou said.
"It's a penalty, I get that, he's made a bit of contact trying to wrap the ball up but it's not an on-report offence. No way.
"As a game, we've got to understand that sometimes people get bumped on the head. We don't want it but it happens and there was no malice in it."
