Bulldogs' Jackson avoids NRL charge

Canterbury back-rower Josh Jackson has avoided being charged by the NRL over a chicken wing tackle and is free to play in Saturday's preliminary final.

Canterbury NRL player Josh Jackson

Canterbury's Josh Jackson has avoided being charged by the NRL over a chicken wing tackle. (AAP)

Josh Jackson is free to play in Canterbury's grand-final qualifier against Penrith on Saturday after the NRL decided not to charge the back-rower over an alleged chicken wing tackle.

Jackson was put on report for a nasty-looking wrench on Manly prop Josh Starling in Saturday night's 18-17 golden-point semi-final win at Allianz Stadium.

It had been widely expected Jackson would face suspension for the tackle, given he had carry-over points from a tripping charge earlier this season.

But the NRL match review committee on Monday cleared him of any wrongdoing and he is available to face the Panthers in their preliminary final at ANZ Stadium.

"The committee found that a tackle by Bulldogs forward Josh Jackson did not take the arm of his opponent, Josh Starling, outside the normal range of movement," the NRL said in a statement.

"As a result, no charges were laid, in line with the judiciary code."

Starling, who was sin-binned for reacting to Jackson's tackle with a light jab to the chin, said he was left feeling "awkward" and "vulnerable" by the action but didn't want to see his adversary rubbed out of the finals series.

The NRL has taken a dim attitude towards chicken wing tackles of late, with Aidan Guerra and Justin Horo both recently suspended for the outlawed wrestling manoeuvre.

Bulldogs skipper Michael Ennis also avoided being charged for a suspected late shoulder charge on Manly half Daly Cherry Evans.

No players were cited over incidents from the weekend's semi-finals.


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