Wests centre Brent Naden has been sanctioned by the NRL for displaying an offensive gesture in a social media post while three Tigers teammates have been warned over their on-field celebtrations.

The NRL integrity unit launched an investigation after players appeared to make obscene gestures at Canterbury supporters during the boilover win on Sunday at CommBank Stadium.

After the final try of their side’s shock 28-14 win, a number of Tigers players appeared to taunt Bulldogs fans with the “khod” gesture, known as an equivalent to “flipping the bird” in the Arabic community.

Naden, Samuela Fainu, Sunia Turuva and Latu Fainu all made the hand gesture towards the southern grandstand, where a large contingent of Bulldogs fans were sitting.

“The hand gesture I made on Sunday was never intended to hurt or cause harm,” Samuela Fainu told CODE Sports. “It’s something I’ve always shared as light-hearted banter with my friends and even my own brothers.

“We’ve done it in a playful manner for years even over a card game, it’s just a part of how we joke around with each other.

“I’ve got a lot of Arabic friends as I’ve grown up with them and have embraced their culture, some of my closest mates, even my agent is Lebanese, I love them.”

On Sunday night, Naden appeared in a since-deleted TikTok video in which he made the gesture and yelled “f***ing dogs” to the camera.

The video was reportedly sent by Naden to a friend and then leaked publicly.

The NRL released a statement on Wednesday morning to say the Wests Tigers had been issued a formal warning over the on-field conduct of three players.

“These actions caused, or had the potential to cause, offence to members of the NRL community. Separately, the NRL has issued a breach notice to Wests Tigers Player Brent Naden.

“The notice alleges that Naden’s conduct following the Wests Tigers match contravened the NRL Code of Conduct.  The Player will have five days to respond to the breach notice.”

Details of the punishment were not announced but Naden is likely to receive a fine of at least $5000.

The Bulldogs have a passionate Middle Eastern fan base and reached out to the NRL to investigate the matter.

It came after star Bulldogs signing Lachlan Galvin was verbally abused by a fan on-field before kick-off of Sunday’s game.

Tigers members and fans formed a long guard of honour for their players on the field before kick-off, with the large crowd taking time to disperse.

In the commotion, one fan stood only metres from former Tiger Galvin and yelled at the star, who controversially left the club to join the Bulldogs mid-season.

The Bulldogs are privately questioning why security was not on hand, particularly given tensions were always expected to run high with Galvin facing his old side for the first time.

Kerr rejoining Dragons

Josh Kerr is set to return to St George Illawarra on a two-year deal after the front-rower was not re-signed by the Dolphins.

It’s understood the ex-Dragon has agreed to terms with the NRL club for 2026 and 2027, with only the formalities still to be completed.

Kerr has been one of the Dolphins’ most consistent forwards this year, leaving him on the fringe of Queensland State of Origin selection as a squad member for game three.

The 29-year-old was keen to stay at the club, but the Dolphins are battling a salary-cap squeeze after their third season in the competition.

Mark Nicholls, Felise Kaufusi and Kenny Bromwich are among other forwards still unsigned by the club.

Kerr debuted at the Dragons in 2019 and played 68 games for the club, before being released midway through 2023 to move to the Dolphins.

The Dragons are going through something of a regeneration of their pack under coach Shane Flanagan, with Jack de Belin headed to Parramatta.

Michael Molo and Raymond Faitala-Mariner are also both off-contract, as is David Klemmer after he was only signed on a seven-month deal in March.

The likes of Toby and Ryan Couchman, Hamish Stewart and Dylan Egan have all debuted in recent years, and loom as big parts of the club’s future.

Marky Mark not a real rookie

Connor Watson has criticised the NRL for making a mid-season rule change that bars his Sydney Roosters teammate Mark Nawaqanitawase from winning Dally M Rookie of the Year award.

But NRL chief executive Andrew Abdo has defended the league, saying the coveted prize must be reserved for “genuine rookies”.

Rugby convert Nawaqanitawase has been a human highlights reel in his first full NRL season with his sparkling attacking play for top-eight hopefuls the Roosters.

The winger also showcased his defensive muscle in a 20-4 win over Manly on Saturday that boosted his side’s finals chances ahead of Saturday’s vital clash with the Dolphins.

But hopes of recognition on the NRL’s awards night came crashing down on Friday when the Australian Rugby League Commission made a subtle tweak to its rules.

Players who have played five professional matches in any sporting code, as determined by the NRL, are now ineligible for the Dally M Rookie of the Year.

Nawaqanitawase falls into that category, having played for Super Rugby’s Waratahs between 2020 and 2024 and represented Australia in rugby union and sevens.

The winger’s omission has left Roosters centre Robert Toia, Warriors forward Leka Halasima and Parramatta fullback Isaiah Iongi as leading candidates for the award.

“Mark would probably be the favourite to win it,” said Roosters hooker Watson at the launch of the NRL’s Indigenous Round.

“So I feel like it’s hard to make that call halfway through the year when he’s played so well. 

“If you’re going to make a decision like that, you probably do it at the start of the year.”

But Abdo said the mid-season change was “really simple”.

“The (ARL) Commission has made a policy change decision around the eligibility for rookie of the year, and I think it’s contemporary. (The rule) hasn’t been looked at for a while,” Abdo said.

“The decision was really simple. It is meant for genuine rookies, so players that are coming through pathways systems, and not for players that have got significant experience, even if it’s in other sports.”

Nawaqanitawase’s 13 tries make him the NRL’s equal fifth-highest scorer for the season, with the 24-year-old even floated as an outside chance for a State of Origin debut earlier in the year.

But the softly spoken Renaissance man has made a greater impression on his teammates off the field during the Roosters’ hot-and-cold campaign.

“That’s probably been the best part of having him in the team,” Watson said.

“His energy every day and the positivity that he has around the group is good because sometimes when your season is inconsistent as it has been this year, everyone can get a bit down in the dumps. 

“Mark comes in with a smile on his face every day and lifts the boys up.”

Watson applauded the NRL for expanding Indigenous Round across two weekends for the first time this season.

“Now every team gets to host a home game and host their own Indigenous Round and involve their own community and the mobs in the area,” the Gamilaroi man said.

with AAP