Canberra Raiders star hooker Josh Hodgson's Dally M Medal hopes have taken a hit after the England international pleaded no contest for his grapple tackle on Melbourne Storm prop Jesse Bromwich.
It means Hodgson will miss the Parramatta Eels clash at Canberra Stadium on Sunday – the first NRL game he'll miss since joining the Raiders from the Super League last season.
He'll also be docked three Dally M votes for his one-week ban, hurting his chances of claiming the individual gong.
Back-up hooker Kurt Baptiste has been named to start, with Adam Clydsdale coming onto the bench.
Close encounter: Storm prop Jesse Bromwich is tackled by Raiders hooker Josh Hodgson.Credit:Getty Images
Raiders coach Ricky Stuart has named an extended bench, with forward Jarrad Kennedy named as 18th man.
The match review committee cited Hodgson on Tuesday for grade-one dangerous contact to the head/neck of Bromwich in the Raiders' 22-8 victory over the Storm on Monday night.
Hodgson grabbed Bromwich around the neck in a tackle in the 17th minute and he appeared to twist Bromwich's neck.
It was worth 100 penalty points, or a one-game ban, but he could have reduced that to 75 carryover points with an early guilty plea.
That would have allowed him to face the Eels, but instead he has pleaded no contest, which means he will miss a week and have a clean slate going forward.
The Raiders were concerned another grade-one charge could cause him to miss a final with the 75 points hanging over his head.
NRL Immortal Andrew Johns labelled it as a "cheap shot", but Hodgson denied there was any malice involved – although he conceded it "didn't look great" when he saw it on the video screen.
Hodgson was just two votes off the four-way lead when the Dally M voting went behind closed doors after round 16.
He's been brilliant for the Raiders this season and an integral cog in their climb into third spot on the NRL ladder.
But every week he's suspended costs him three Dally M votes, with a second suspension making him ineligible.
Johns said Hodgson should have been suspended during his commentary on Triple M.
"He's used his head as a can opener there. That was a real cheap shot, because [Bromwich's] arms are wrapped up, he had to hold the ball and couldn't defend himself," he said.
"He should get suspended for that. I've never really seen that in Hodgson's game. He's a very creative player and I've never seen any of that rubbish in his game and that was really cheap."
But Hodgson said it was "just a silly penalty" and he didn't think "there was anything in it".
"It was a bit stupid by me, it was nothing malicious I was just trying to slow it down. It didn't look great on the replay, I didn't realise at the time that it was like that, I just thought I was slowing it down a little bit because I'd lost the play of the ball," Hodgson said after the game.
"I don't think there was anything in it really, nothing major. I can see why they said [it was a penalty], there was contact with the head. I'd never go out to injure anybody, it was just a silly penalty."
Meanwhile star Parramatta winger Semi Radradra will return from injury for the clash.
Baptiste will start for the second time this year and is confident he can fill the boots of a man many regard as Canberra's most important player.
"If Hodgson is out we'll deal with that and get on with it," he said before Hodgson was charged.
"If he's out he'll be a big loss but we've got a good-enough side to fill in there and keep the momentum going."
NRL ROUND 24
Sunday: Canberra Raiders v Parramatta Eels at Canberra Stadium, 2pm. Tickets available from Ticketek.
Raiders team: 1. Jack Wighton, 2. Brenko Lee, 3. Jarrod Croker (c), 4. Joey Leilua, 5. Jordan Rapana, 6. Blake Austin, 7. Aidan Sezer, 8. Junior Paulo, 9. Kurt Baptiste, 10. Shannon Boyd, 11. Josh Papalii, 12. Elliott Whitehead, 13. Sia Soliola. Bench: 14. Adam Clydsdale, 15. Luke Bateman, 16. Clay Priest, 17. Joe Tapine, 18. Jarrad Kennedy.
Eels team: 1. Michael Gordon, 2. Semi Radradra, 3. Michael Jennings, 4. Manu Ma'u, 5. Bevan French, 6. Clint Gutherson, 7. Jeff Robson, 8. Danny Wicks, 9. Isaac De Gois, 10. Tim Mannah, 11. Kenny Edwards, 12. Tepai Moeroa, 13. Beau Scott. Bench: 14. Kaysa Pritchard, 15. David Gower, 16. Peni Terepo, 17. Daniel Alvaro.