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Warriors forward Ben Matulino during his side's heavy defeat to the Dragons in Wellington.

Warriors prop Ben Matulino is free to play the Storm on Sunday after he was found not guilty of a shoulder charge on Brisbane's Corey Oates at the NRL judiciary on Wednesday night.

Matulino's defence team argued that he was bracing for contact, and that the involvement of a second tackler meant he couldn't properly wrap his arms around Oates. 

Their evidence suggested the tackle was not by definition a shoulder charge, and the panel agreed, clearing the Kiwis front-rower to play this weekend. 

The incident took place late in Friday's 15-point loss at Suncorp Stadium, with Oates set to be sidelined for up to six weeks with a shoulder injury.

Matulino had been looking at a three game ban for the Grade One offence after being charged for a similar incident on the Dragons' Gareth Widdop last year.

The not guilty verdict means all three players at Wednesday night's judiciary were exonerated after Canterbury's David Klemmer and North Queensland's Matt Scott were cleared of their respective charges. 

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National Rugby League respects and honours the Traditional Custodians of the land and pay our respects to their Elders past, present and future. We acknowledge the stories, traditions and living cultures of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples on the lands we meet, gather and play on.

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