SCOTT Briggs (pictured) and Blake Andrews have both avoided suspension and will be free to play for the Goannas in Saturday's minor semi-final against defending champions Souths at Cessnock Sportsground.
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The Cessnock pair entered early guilty pleas to charges from Saturday's elimination semi-final win over the Pickers at Maitland and weren't forced to roll the dice at the Newcastle Rugby League judiciary this week.
Playmaker Briggs narrowly avoided a ban and now has 90 carryover points following his grade one dangerous throw while lock Andrews had earlier been checked for dangerous contact.
* SOUTHS have named an extended bench of Cameron King, Daniel Martine, Jason Keelan and Ryan Pywell for this weekend.
* RON Griffiths, Adam Bettridge, Luke Dorn and Lyndon Sheppard have yet to confirm if or where they will coach in 2020 after recently finishing stints at Kurri, Macquarie, Maitland and Lakes respectively.
It wouldn't be surprising if they popped up again somewhere, even outside the Newcastle RL competition.
* CRL Newcastle premiership-winner Holli Wheeler has placed a high price on loyalty ahead of the second Women's NRL Premiership, which starts next weekend.
"The Dragons gave me a crack last year and I owe them that. It's the least I can do because I've gone on since to play for NSW and the Jillaroos on the back of those games last year," the Wallsend-based 29-year-old told NRL.com.
Hannah Southwell and Mel Howard both switched from St George-Illawarra to the Sydney Roosters this year, following CRL Newcastle coach Rick Stone to Bondi.
