Dolphins utility Kurt Donoghoe is facing a three-week ban with an early plea for a careless high shot on Dragons prop Francis Molo.
Donoghoe who came off the bench and played dummy-half in the loss, hit Molo in the head with a forceful swinging arm and was sent to the sin bin.
The 22-year-old will miss four games if the Dolphins elect to challenge the charge at the NRL judiciary and lose.
It is an untimely suspension for Donoghoe and the Dolphins, who are set to be without starting hooker Jeremy Marshall-King for at least a few weeks after he sustained a foot injury and was seen soon after in a moon boot.
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This creates a No. 9 dilemma for the Dolphins, now missing their first two choices at the position, although coach Wayne Bennett has already earmarked a replacement.
“Probably Max Plath,” Bennett said following the loss to the Dragons.
“He’s playing really well. He’s a wonderful young player for his age and does a great job.”
Donoghoe was one of five players cited and punished by the NRL’s match review committee out of Sunday’s games, but the only one to cop a suspension.
Cowboys rising star Jaxon Purdue and Tigers centre Adam Doueihi were also sin binned during Sunday’s slate of games.
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Purdue escaped suspension for tripping Panthers star Daine Laurie but will be fined $1000 with an early plea.
There have been two players suspended for tripping this season.
Ironically, one of those – Manly prop Josh Aloiai, copped the suspension for tripping Laurie during a Round 14 clash between the Sea Eagles and Panthers.
Doueihi was ruled to have committed a hip drop tackle on Roosters star Dom Young and will be fined $750 if he takes an early plea.
Tigers coach Benji Marshall admitted that he was left “surprised” by the decision to sin bin Doueihi.
“I don’t know what he’s supposed to do. Sol (Solomona Faataape) puts on a good shot, sends him backwards and Doueihi’s just underneath him, I thought that was pretty harsh,” Marshall said following the loss to the Roosters.
Strangely, Tigers skipper Api Koroisau wasn’t even charged for his dangerous tackle on Lindsay Collins which resulted in a sin bin.
Both Marshall and Roosters coach Trent Robinson said post-match that the decision to send Koroisau to the bin was harsh.