South Sydney captain Ashley Harrison is the first player to be charged in the NRL's grapple tackle crackdown - coincidentally while playing against the team which started it.

The 23-year-old lock earned a slice of history when he was slapped with two charges by the match review committee, including contrary conduct for unnecessary head-neck contact - or a grapple tackle.

In a strange coincidence, Harrison was charged playing against the team credited with sparking the crackdown - Melbourne.

Harrison has also been hit with a grade one dangerous throw and could be out for up to three weeks if found guilty of both charges.

In another major blow to the struggling Rabbitohs (14th; 2-7 record), leading tryscorer Luke MacDougall faces up to seven weeks on the sidelines unless the winger successfully contests a grade four dangerous throw on Melbourne's Scott Hill.

Both charges stemmed from Souths' 38-12 defeat by Melbourne last Saturday night at Aussie Stadium - the Rabbitohs' fourth straight loss.

Souths will decide their pleas on Tuesday.

Harrison - still reeling from his Queensland Origin snub - was booked for the grapple tackle for his effort on Melbourne lock Dallas Johnson in the fourth minute.

The NRL last week issued a revised grapple tackle definition after Cronulla prop Jason Stevens complained in an April 30 game against Melbourne that he felt as if he had been "choked" by the Storm defence.

NRL referees coach Robert Finch, chief operating officer Graham Annesley and chief video reviewer Greg McCallum came up with the new definition.

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