TOWNSVILLE, AUSTRALIA - AUGUST 19: James Maloney of the Sharks skips out of tackle of Corey Jensen of the Cowboys during the round 24 NRL match between the North Queensland Cowboys and the Cronulla Sharks at 1300SMILES Stadium on August 19, 2017 in Townsville, Australia. (Photo by Ian Hitchcock/Getty Images)

James Maloney and Wade Graham were charged from incidents in the game against the Cowboys on Saturday night, however, both will be free to play the Roosters in their team’s crucial match this weekend.

Maloney was charged with tripping Cowboy Ethan Lowe in the 72nd minute of the match, while Graham was handed a grade one careless high tackle charge for a hit on Michael Morgan in the 28th minute of the first half.

Grade one Careless high tackles and tripping charges now attract monetary fines rather than points and match suspensions, with Maloney fined $1,350 and Graham $1,900 for their indiscretions after the pair took early guilty pleas.

Graham has loading from a prior offence which bumped his penalty up to $1,900.

While Graham came from the field with calf soreness in the early moments of the second half up in Townsville, he remains positive about his chances of being fit to face the Roosters on Saturday night.

As for Maloney, in his second week back after breaking his hand in the round 20 win over Souths, the Sharks number six turned in a stellar opening 40-minutes in returning to his best form and with that additional game under his belt will be primed for a big performance against his old club the Roosters in the important round 25 clash.

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