Gold Coast captain Ryan James is free to play the Warriors on Sunday after being cleared of a shoulder charge by the NRL judiciary.

James was charged after his first-half hit on North Queensland’s Patrick Kaufusi in the Titans’ 32-26 loss, however he argued he was merely trying to protect himself from co-tackler Jarrod Wallace.

The NRL judiciary, comprising of former players Sean Garlick, Mal Cochrane and Tony Puletua, took just 15 minutes to agree – saving James from a two-game ban.