The NRL's match review committee have elected to charge just four players from Saturday's action in Round 4 despite ten being placed on report across the three games.

Of the four charged, only Penrith Panthers' hooker Mitch Kenny will face a suspension for a hip drop tackle which saw him sin binned and Parramatta Eels fullback Isaiah Iongi leave the field with a knee injury.

Kenny, who has been slapped with a Grade 2 dangerous contact charge and is on a first offence, will be able to accept a one-match ban with an early guilty plea, and would risk a second by fighting it at the NRL judiciary.

Coach Ivan Cleary implored officials post-game to re-assess the rules around the hip drop tackle, and Kenny, based on those comments, could yet fight for a downgrade at the judiciary.

Viliame Kikau was charged for a hip drop tackle which left Newcastle Knights' forward Tyson Frizell grimacing, while Lachlan Galvin was also charged for a hip drop tackle on Mat Croker.

Galvin's tackle seemed to make direct contact after swinging with the back of the legs of Mat Croker, and some suggested it was worse than the tackle which saw St George Illawarra Dragons forward Ryan Couchman referred to the judiciary and banned for four weeks coming out of Round 3.

Despite that, Kikau and Galvin have both been hit with Grade 1 dangerous contact charges. Kikau will face a $1000 fine with an early guilty plea or $1500 if he fights and loses given it's a first offence on his record, while Galvin will be up for $1800 with an early guilty plea or $2500 if he fights and loses given it's a second offence.

Manaia Waitere was the other player charged out of the day's action for a careless high tackle on Scott Drinkwater which saw shoulder to head contact. He has been hit with a Grade 1 charge and, as it's a first offence, he will only be slapped with a $1000 fine.

Elsewhere, Canterbury Bulldogs forward Max King avoided charge for what looked a bad crusher tackle on Dominic Young, while Mat Croker also avoided sanction for a crusher tackle on Canterbury winger Marcelo Montoya.

Scott Sorensen was placed on report for making high contact with Matt Doorey where his shoulder made direct contact with the head, while Cowboys' duo Heilum Luki and Zac Laybutt escaped sanctions for a crusher and hip drop tackle respectively.

All three players, as well as King, were expected to be charged based on precedent from previous sanctions throughout the opening weeks of the season, and dating back to last season.

Kikau, Galvin, Kenny and Waitere will have until midday (AEDT) on Monday to determine whether they will accept early guilty pleas or challenge at the NRL judiciary.