St George Illawarra lock Josh McGuire could be sidelined for nearly two months, after being charged by the match review committee for his 'hip drop' tackle (watch it in the video above) on Melbourne's Josh Addo-Carr yesterday.
McGuire has been hit with a grade three dangerous contact charge, an offence that carries a base penalty of 300 points, or three matches.
However, McGuire's carry-over points and poor record – he has a host of prior offences – means he's looking at five weeks out if he pleads guilty, and seven weeks on the sideline if he's found guilty at the judiciary.
In further bad news for the Dragons, fellow back-rower Tyrell Fuimaono is also facing an extended ban.
Fuimaono copped a grade one reckless high tackle charge for the ugly hit that saw Melbourne's Ryan Papenhuyzen stretchered off. With loadings, Fuimaono will miss five weeks with an early plea, and six weeks if he takes his chances at the judiciary and loses.
Nine's Phil Gould was left shaking his head at Fuimaono's actions so late in the round, given the NRL had made it clear before the weekend started they would come down hard on any offences, and had backed it up with a series of sin bins and send offs.
"It is incomprehensible to think a player would come up with a hit like that at this stage of the weekend after everything we've seen. On any weekend that was a send-off," he said during commentary.
In a horror day for the Dragons, they also have Mikaele Ravalawa and Tariq Sims looking at potential bans.
Ravalawa is looking at two to three weeks on the sideline for a shoulder charge on Justin Olam, while Sims will miss one to two weeks for a grade two dangerous contact charge.
Gold Coast could be without both Tyrone Peachey and Herman Ese'ese, after they were charged following the Titans' loss to Penrith.
Peachey will miss two weeks for a crusher tackle, regardless of whether he takes the early plea or not, while Ese'ese is looking at three or four weeks out for his high shot on Brian To'o.
Meanwhile, Queensland's Josh Papali'i will miss the opening State of Origin match, after he accepted a three game ban for a careless high tackle.
That rules him out of the Origin opener in Melbourne on June 9.
In all, 22 players were hit with a total of 24 charges out of the weekend's round of matches.
If every player accepts the early plea, suspensions totalling 25 weeks and fines of $22,750 will be handed out.
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