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Sydney Roosters star Luke Keary has escaped with a maximum $1500 fine for his careless high tackle in their preliminary final win over Melbourne on Saturday.
Sydney Roosters star Luke Keary will turn his focus on managing his injured ankle through to Sunday's grand final after escaping with a fine for a high tackle.
Keary was on Sunday charged with a grade-one careless high tackle on Melbourne second-rower Felise Kaufusi during Saturday night's preliminary final but the offence attracts a maximum $1500 fine.
Roosters teammate Zane Tetevano escaped sanction despite being put on report for a high shot on Melbourne fullback Ryan Papenhuyzen.
It means that - unlike last year's Billy Slater shoulder-charge incident - grand final week will be free of judiciary hearings, with Canberra kingpin Josh Papalii also escaping with a fine over the tackle which flattened South Sydney's Adam Doueihi in Friday's preliminary final.
Keary was penalised after his arm hit Kaufusi's jaw during the first half of his team's 14-6 win at the SCG.
The incident came moments after a fierce Kaufusi fend to the face of Keary, who also pulled a chunk of the Storm forward's hair in attempting the tackle.
While Kaufusi was taken from the field for a concussion test, it is understood a a rib injury suffered earlier prevented his return to the field.
"I actually feel really bad," Keary said post-match.
"I didn't mean to knock him out or anything like that. I hope he's okay."
Asked about the hair-pull, Keary said: 'I think I was just trying to grab him. I don't really want to joke about it until he's healthy. But yeah, it is what it is."
Keary battled an ankle issue in the lead-up to the final-four clash and aggravated it when he landed awkwardly after kicking against the Storm, hobbling through the game thereafter.
However the five-eighth was adamant he would be fit to play in Sunday's grand final.
"I'll probably manage it a little bit at the start of the week. It pulled up pretty good so I should be fine to train most of the days," Keary said.
