Valentine Holmes avoids suspension after Dragons sunk by Rabbitohs rookie's miracle kick

St George Illawarra's big-money recruit Val Holmes has managed to avoid suspension after a nasty incident in Saturday's clash with South Sydney.

While a late field goal from Rabbitohs rookie Jamie Humphreys saw the Red V drop to 0-2 to start the season, Shane Flanagan will be able to breathe a sigh of relief.

Souths were leading mid-way through the first half at Wollongong's WIN Stadium and were on the charge looking for more points, when wily five-eighth Cody Walker weaved his way to the right side of the field.

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His teammate Jai Arrow pushed up and looked like getting the ball, but Walker cleverly pulled his pass, leaving Arrow to run a decoy line.

However, star centre Holmes put a shot on Arrow anyway, flooring his former State of Origin teammate without the ball.

The back-rower hit the deck in pain and referee Ashley Klein immediately blew his whistle to penalise Holmes for the shot.

Klein and the Bunker judged the contact was not high and Holmes was not sin binned.

However, moments later, Arrow was ordered to leave the field for a HIA, suggesting the contact was in fact high from Holmes.

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Nonetheless the Dragons star - who moved to Wollongong this year on a deal said to be worth $850,000 a season - was allowed to remain on the field.

The match review committee hit Holmes with a grade one dangerous contact charge, which will see him fined $1000 with an early guilty plea.

Should the club opt to fight the charge and lose, Holmes will be fined $1500.

Arrow passed his HIA and returned to the field, only to be forced off again during the second half following another hit to the head.

He was not permitted to return to the action following his second assessment.

The Dragons could have another player in trouble after Jacob Liddle fell onto the back of Siliva Havili's leg during the second half.

Liddle was not penalised and was not charged by the MRC on Sunday morning.

South Sydney will be without Lachlan Hubner for the next two weeks however, with the young lock-forward charged for a crusher tackle on Clint Gutherson.

It was a miserable day for the Dragons, who led comfortably until a late comeback.

The score was locked at 24-24 with five minutes remaining when rookie halfback Humphreys snapped a field goal from long range.

It proved to be the decisive kick as South Sydney won 25-24 to be 2-0 for the season under new coach Wayne Bennett.

"Unreal win, backs against the wall there," Humphreys said.

"We stuck it out and did what we needed to to to get the win.

"I knew in the back of my head I wanted to go for (the field goal), it didn't really work out the way I wanted it to.

"I got the ball in my hands and backed myself to do it."

The Rabbitohs take on the Sharks in round three while St George Illawarra has the bye.