NZ Warriors star Reece Walsh and NZ Kiwis hooker Brandon Smith will return early from suspensions that would have seen them miss games to start the new NRL campaign.
But NRL chief executive Andrew Abdo has moved to tighten the loophole that has allowed the pair to slip through on a technicality.
Walsh will still miss the Warriors' opener against St George Dragons on March 12, but Smith has been cleared to line up for Melbourne Storm against Wests Tigers later that night, with their respective clubs reportedly negotiating an easing of penalties for off-field misadventures at the end of last season.
Walsh was due to miss the first three rounds of play - one for his part in the brawl against Gold Coast Titans last September and two more, after he was arrested for possession of cocaine at a Surfer's Paradise nightclub.
But after South Sydney successfully argued that last month's NRL Māori v Indigenous game should count towards star fullback Latrell Mitchell's standdown for a gruesome high hit on Kiwi Joseph Manu last season, the Warriors and Storm have successfully followed suit, reports the Daily Telegraph.
Smith could have turned out for the Māori at Parramatta, while Walsh actually qualified for both teams, through a Māori mother and Indigenous father.
"In making my decision, I have considered eligibility, likelihood of selection and consistency with the chairman of the judiciary," says Abdo. "I have asked my team to simplify the rules, so we are able to present some proposed changes to the commission for consideration.
"This will be aimed at simplifying and harmonising sanctions between on-field matters dealt with by the judiciary and off-field matters dealt with by the NRL rules."
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