Souths star Latrell Mitchell faces a season ending 6-9 week ban after a high shot that left Roosters star Joey Manu badly injured.
Mitchell was charged with a grade two reckless high tackle which means the Rabbitohs star faces six weeks on the sidelines with the early plea and nine if found guilty at the NRL judiciary.
With just one round to go of the regular season and then four weeks of NRL finals, Mitchell’s season is over unless he decides to fight the charge.
If Mitchell were to play again this year, he would need the charge downgraded two levels, however even a grade-one reckless high tackle will be enough to end his year.
The tackle sparked a heated reaction from Roosters coach Trent Robinson who labelled the NRL bunker a “farce” for the way they handled the matter during game.
With four prior offences in the past two years, Mitchell was always going to be in trouble according to league great Phil Gould.
The Souths star was suspended earlier in the season for four weeks for a grade two dangerous contact charge.
South Sydney have played six games without Mitchell this year and have come out on top in five of those clashes, with Cody Walker and Blake Taaffe filling in admirably in his absence.
Souths coach Wayne Bennett hit back at claims the Rabbitohs’ season is over after last night’s match, declaring the club has the players to contend for the NRL premiership without Mitchell.
“He is a huge player for us. We didn’t have him last year in the play-offs and we are a better team than we were last year,” Bennett said.
“We are pretty good at getting other players to play well for us and put them in key positions and that is what we are going to have to find if that [suspension] happens.
“We have won a lot of games this year with a lot of players missing. Latrell missed a month of football earlier in the season, and one after the Origin. Our greatest strength this year has been the squad and I will have to rely on the squad to get the job done.
“I am confident there is enough good players to make it happen for us. It just makes it a little bit harder for us.”
Meantime, Rabbitohs teammate Liam Knight is facing a ban of 2-3 matches for making dangerous contact with Roosters prop Siosiua Taukeiaho, while Roosters forward Fletcher Baker is facing a 1-2 week ban for a crusher tackle.
Warriors prop Matthew Lodge is also facing a 1-2 week ban after being charged with dangerous contact over a tackle on Raiders forward Joseph Tapine.
The match review committee handed out fines to the following players: Roosters forwards Isaac Liu (careless high tackle), Egan Butcher (dangerous throw) and Souths centre Dane Gagai (contrary conduct).
For a daily dose of the best of the breaking news and exclusive content from Wide World of Sports, subscribe to our newsletter by clicking here!