NRL Match Review and Judiciary News – Round 17 Recap: 

- Bulldogs five-eighth Matt Burton and Roosters forward Nat Butcher both facing suspension.

- The Roosters copped the heaviest hit, with three players charged in total.

- Burton risks a two-match ban if he contests his Grade 1 dangerous contact charge.

Burton in Hot Water for Bulldogs

Bulldogs playmaker Matt Burton is the biggest name on the Round 17 NRL judiciary sheet, charged with a Grade 1 dangerous contact offence for an incident on Josh Patston in the 48th minute.

As a third and subsequent offence, the penalty load carries serious weight. Burton's options:

Early guilty plea: $3,000 fine, no suspension

Contest at panel: Two-match suspension if found guilty

With the Bulldogs deep in finals contention, Canterbury officials will be weighing up whether to roll the dice or accept the fine and keep their star pivot on the park.

Roosters Hit Hardest in Match Review Charges

It was a rough night at the bunker for the Tricolours, with three players copping charges from the Match Review Committee:

Nat Butcher – Grade 2 dangerous contact on Aublix Tawha (73rd minute): one-match early plea, two matches at panel

Lindsay Collins – Grade 1 careless high tackle on Xavier Willison (9th minute): $1,000 fine early plea, $1,500 at panel

Sam Walker – Grade 1 shoulder charge on Reece Walsh (12th minute): $1,500 fine early plea, $2,000 at panel

Butcher is the only Rooster facing time on the sidelines, with a one-match ban locked in if he takes the early plea.

Titans' Fotuaika Cops a Fine

Titans prop Moeaki Fotuaika rounds out the charge sheet, hit with a Grade 1 careless high tackle for an incident on Connor Tracey in the 76th minute. 

He's looking at an $1,800 fine with an early plea, or $2,500 if he chooses to contest the charge at the panel.

Round 17 NRL Charges at a Glance

| Player | Club | Charge | Early Plea | Panel 

Matt Burton | Bulldogs | Grade 1 Dangerous Contact | $3,000 fine | 2 matches 

Nat Butcher | Roosters | Grade 2 Dangerous Contact | 1 match | 2 matches 

Moeaki Fotuaika | Titans | Grade 1 Careless High Tackle | $1,800 fine | $2,500 fine 

Lindsay Collins | Roosters | Grade 1 Careless High Tackle | $1,000 fine | $1,500 fine 

Sam Walker | Roosters | Grade 1 Shoulder Charge | $1,500 fine | $2,000 fine 

What Happens Next

All five charged players now have a call to make – take the early guilty plea for a reduced sanction, or front the NRL Judiciary panel and risk a heftier penalty. 

Any hearings will be locked in ahead of Round 18, with Burton and Butcher's decisions the ones to watch as the finals race heats up.

Head to Sportsbet.com.au for the latest Round 18 NRL markets, premiership odds and player props as the regular season hits the business end.