THE NRL has handed Test captain Cameron Smith a warning notice for his elbow to the head of Leeds hooker Matt Parcell in the World Club Challenge final on Friday night.

The decision to issue Smith with a concerning act letter has saved him from possibly being suspended from his own testimonial match in Brisbane on Saturday night when the Melbourne Storm play the North Queensland Cowboys at Suncorp Stadium.

A concerning act letter is often sent to NRL players for actions that are considered not quite serious enough to warrant a suspension.

Although referee Gerard Sutton took no action against Smith for striking his opponent, the match review committee was concerned Smith’s action could have escalated into more serious foul play.

media_camera Cameron Smith drops his elbow onto Matt Parcell's head.

A spokesman for the NRL confirmed a letter had been sent to the Melbourne Storm on Monday morning.

Smith was reacting to a driving tackle in which Parcell lifted the Kangaroos skipper off the ground and drove him into the turf.

The fact no action was taken against Smith created a furore on social media over the weekend with suggestions he was a protected species.

Smith has a long history and reputation for trying to influence referees.

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