Josh Addo-Carr will be free to start next season with Canterbury despite being banned for two matches by the NRL for his role in a Koori Knockout brawl.
The NRL's integrity unit on Friday finalised their investigation into Addo-Carr's involvement in a scuffle on grand final weekend, where footage showed him punching a person.
The league handed Addo-Carr a two-match ban and $5000 fine, of which $3000 is suspended for 12 months.
Addo-Carr had initially been picked in Australia's Test squad, and while he left camp last week as a result in the incident, his ban will be served during the tournament.
The NRL's punishment comes after the Canterbury flyer met with Bulldogs officials on Friday about his future, amid concerns over his behaviour in recent weeks.
Contracted to Canterbury until the end of 2025, Addo-Carr would be a target for several clubs if he was cut loose from the Bulldogs.
But Canterbury football supremo Phil Gould insisted after the meeting that the representative winger would be remaining at Belmore.
"We had a good chat," Gould told Nine.
"Josh has had an eventful couple of weeks. He was most apologetic and keen to redeem himself.
"Pressure and stress can manifest itself in different ways at times.
"He has called (NRL chief executive) Andrew Abdo and (NRL integrity unit boss) Jason King personally to offer his apologies. We will get him back on track."
The Koori Knockout drama had been one of two issues to surround Addo-Carr in the past week after he also attracted headlines for likening Palestine's situation to that of Indigenous land rights in Australia.
In a statement on Thursday, Addo-Carr apologised for the post and said he was not properly across the most recent developments in Israel and Palestine before sharing the post.
“I would like to begin by apologising for any offence I have caused due to my recent social media post,” Addo-Carr said.
“As a proud First Nations man, I saw a message of support against displacement and land rights, and I shared this without full consideration to, or understanding of, the current events happening overseas.
“I recognise that this is a mistake. As soon as it was brought to my attention, I deleted my post and felt remorse.
“Having gone away and looked at what is happening overseas, it is a complex situation. There are no winners in war and where there is loss of life. The message I thought I was sharing, was a message of respect for all people.
“This is the message I wish to share now. Respect; respect for each other, and each other’s culture."
