Latrell Mitchell has escaped suspension in a huge boost for NSW, while teammate Liam Martin is also free to play in the decider despite multiple incidents in Origin II.
In his first game for the Blues since 2021, Mitchell was at his dominant best as he helped keep the series alive and force a decider.
However, his trademark aggression did step over the line at one stage, collecting Maroons winger Xavier Coates high before immediately putting his hand up to apologise.
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But his teammates and Michael Maguire will be able to breathe a sigh of relief, with Mitchell copping a grade one careless high tackle charge.
If he accepts the early guilty plea, Mitchell will be fined seven per cent of his match fee and risks that being bumped to 10 per cent if he fights it at the panel and loses.
Many thought the issue for the Blues would be enforcer Martin, who was penalised and lucky to avoid further sanction after an ugly lifting tackle on on Reuben Cotter.
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Martin however was not charged for the tackle, which will likely come as a surprise to Andrew Johns, who criticised the decision to allow Martin to stay on the field.
“This will be a sin-bin,” the NSW legend said on Nine.
“If they are consistent – we saw one on the weekend with Roger Tuivasa-Sheck. He gets him up and over the parallel. If there’s consistency, he would be sin-binned.”
The back-rower did end up getting sin binned in the second half for sparking a melee between both teams, rubbing Jaydn Su’A on the head and riling up the Maroons.
Martin drew the ire of the officials for a third time late in the match after a late hit on Daly Cherry-Evans and the Panthers hardman was charged for that incident.
The 27-year-old was hit with a grade one dangerous contact charge for taking out the Maroons skipper and will be fined seven per cent of his match fee.
The only other punishment from the fiery encounter came for Valentine Holmes, who copped a grade one careless high tackle charge and will escape with a fine.