Bulldogs forward Corey Harawira-Naera and outside back Jayden Okunbor have had their NRL contracts reinstated after the NRL Appeals Committee revised their sanctions. Both will be free to resume playing after serving their allocated bans and paying fines.
The pair were de-registered in April following a pre-season incident involving schoolgirls they met during a clinic at a Port Macquarie high school.
Harawira-Naera has already served all but one week of his 10-week suspension and could be back in the blue and white as soon as round 11 after paying his $15,000 fine.
Okunbor's transgression was deemed the more serious of the two and he was handed a 14-week suspension and $22,500 fine, as well as counselling or community service.
The Bulldogs have released a statement regarding the return of Harawira-Naera and Okunbor saying; "we are now working with the NRL to determine how this process will be implemented".
NRL acting CEO Andrew Abdo wasn't happy with the decision.
"The NRL took the action which it considered necessary given the serious breaches of the Code of Conduct - breaches the Appeals Committee also found to be serious," Abdo said.
"The independent appeals committee has taken a different view on what penalty the players should face and although we are disappointed, we respect the outcome."
The news comes as Bulldogs coach Dean Pay is reported to be on the brink of resigning, following a horror run of poor results.