League: Uate free to play in Origin II

Akuila Uate. Photo / Getty Images

Newcastle's Akuila Uate will be free to play for New South Wales in rugby league's State of Origin II with an early guilty plea after being charged with a grade one dangerous throw on Wests Tigers player Tim Simona.

Uate was put on report in the Knights' 17-16 loss to Wests Tigers at Leichhardt Oval on Monday night after lifting centre Simona between the legs and dumping him on his back late in the second half.

There had been fears the Fijian-born flyer could be hit with a high grade charge, which would have almost certainly ruled him out of the second Origin match at ANZ Stadium next week.

But NRL match review committee chairman Greg McCallum said a grade one charge was appropriate, giving Uate until midday on Wednesday to accept an early guilty plea and clear him to play for the Blues.

"Although player Uate lifted player Simona into a dangerous position, Simona was able to get his arm to the ground and in some manner protect himself," McCallum said in a statement.

"It is his shoulder that makes most contact with the ground and there is only minor contact with the back of his head."

- AAP