James hit with a fine for tripping

GOLD Coast captain Ryan James has been slapped with a $1350 fine for tripping St George Illawarra’s Joel Thompson.

James pleaded guilty to the grade one charge, which occurred in the 50th minute of the Titans’ 20-10 win over the Dragons last Friday night.

His fine would have risen to $1800 had he unsuccessfully contested the charge.

Newcastle forward Mitchell Barnett can escape suspension for dangerous contact on Wests Tigers halfback Luke Brooks with an early guilty plea.

Barnett was charged with a grade one offence for contact on Brooks, after he floored the halfback with an apparent high shot as he made a kick in the dying minutes of their clash.

However, the 23-year-old will only miss a match if he takes the case to the judiciary and loses.

Penrith forward Leilani Latu has avoided being cited for an apparent shoulder charge on South Sydney halfback Adam Reynolds.

Latu was placed on report for the hit on the No.7 as he kicked the ball in Penrith’s 42-14 loss, but the incident was not taken any further by the match review committee.

South Sydney’s Thomas Burgess faces a fine for tripping Panthers prop James Tamou.