Canterbury star Ben Barba has been charged by the NRL judiciary but can escape a suspension for his knees-in-the-back tackle on Jamie Soward.

Barba was on Monday handed a grade one dangerous contact charge for unnecessary use of the knees after landing on Soward’s back as the St George Illawarra five-eighth scored a try in Friday night’s NRL match in Sydney.

The charge carries 100 points but the reduction for an early guilty would be enough to avoid a one-match ban.

Less fortunate is Dragons forward Leeson Ah Mau who faces a one-match suspension for a grade two careless high tackle on Bulldogs prop Aidan Tolman unless he successfully contests the matter.