Papenhuyzen learns fate as he and Mulitalo clear air

Yahoo

18-05-2025

Melbourne star Ryan Papenhuyzen has avoided any charge over his last-minute hit on Ronaldo Mulitalo and the pair have cleared the air following Cronulla's NRL win.
In a dramatic closing to the Sharks' 31-26 win over the Storm, Papenhuyzen was hit high by Siosifa Talakai before Mulitalo stood over the top of the Melbourne No.1.
The pair clashed again on the next play, when Mulitalo defused a last-ditch Melbourne bomb and copped a high swinging arm from Papenhuyzen while on the ground.
Referee Adam Gee placed Papenhuyzen on report, but opted against giving Cronulla a penalty in order to end the game and stop emotions boiling over again.
Talakai was on Sunday handed a fine over his high shot on Papenhuyzen, while the Storm fullback was not charged at all.
"Me and Ronaldo spoke after the game, we're all good," Papenhuyzen said afterwards.
"We just spoke about having a competitive nature and that's going to happen in games.
We respect that about each other. We spoke about it, we're all good. It's all on the field and we just get on with it.
"It was two competitive sides. It just got a bit competitive there and heated. That's what you like."
Papenhuyzen's non charge means he remains either a possible - if unlikely - option for NSW for State of Origin I, or the man to lead the Storm with other representative players out.
The news was not so good for Warriors star James Fisher-Harris, who is facing a one-match ban after his high shot on Harrison Graham.
On return from a pectoral strain, Fisher-Harris was sin-binned for the high tackle late in his second-placed team's win over the Dolphins at Suncorp Stadium.
His absence briefly allowed the hosts back into the game, and the Warriors co-captain is now set to miss the clash with Canberra next week.
Fisher-Harris would risk a second match on the sideline if he attempted to fight the charge and was unsuccessful.