2 Sep 2008

Manly duo free to play despite charges

3:13 pm on 2 September 2008

Manly's Steve Matai and Glenn Stewart will be free to play for the NRL ladder leaders in this weekend's final round despite being charged by the match review committee.

They have received grade one careless high tackle charges following last night's fiery 28-10 win over Gold Coast at Brookvale Oval.

Early guilty pleas would see both cleared to play against Penrith on Saturday nigh.

But Matai will risk a one-match ban if he contests the charge at the NRL judiciary tomorrow night when the Warriors fullback Wade McKinnon and Newcastle utility Matt Hilder face spitting charges.

Manly need a sizeable win over the Panthers to hold off Melbourne in the race for the minor premiership, as they're level on 36 competition points but ahead by eight in points differential.