Newcastle have been dealt a back-row blow, with English international Kai Pearce-Paul facing a ban of at least two matches for his shoulder charge on Daniel Saifiti.
The Knights second-rower was sin-binned in the second half of Newcastle’s 26-12 win over the Dolphins on Friday night, after his shoulder collected Saifiti’s head.
The incident initially went unnoticed on field, before it was picked up by the bunker.
The Dolphins did not receive a penalty, and failed to make use of the one-man advantage as any hope of a late comeback was snuffed out.
The match review committee on Friday deemed the hit as a shoulder charge and not a high tackle, given Pearce-Paul’s lack of attempt to wrap his arm in the contact.
The more serious charge means will miss games against Gold Coast and Canterbury with an early guilty.
If he attempts to fight the charge and loses, Pearce-Paul would also miss Newcastle’s round-six clash with Wests Tigers.