David Fifita, the second-rower for the South Sydney Rabbitohs, will be sidelined for two games following a verdict from the NRL judiciary on Tuesday night.
Fifita appeared before the judiciary with hopes of having a Grade 2 dangerous contact charge reduced.
This charge stemmed from an incident during Saturday's unexpected defeat to the Canberra Raiders, where Fifita, after running the ball, kicked his leg and foot into Hudson Young's head as he was getting up from the ground.
The action resulted in contact with the side of Young's face, but surprisingly, no penalty was awarded despite the Raiders' immediate objections.
Had Fifita accepted the early guilty plea for the Grade 2 charge, he would have faced just a one-game suspension. However, the Rabbitohs opted to challenge the decision at the NRL's judiciary, aiming for a lesser penalty.
The panel's unanimous decision instead led to a two-game suspension for Fifita, meaning he will miss the upcoming games against the Melbourne Storm at home and the Cronulla Sharks on the road.
This suspension comes at a critical time for the Rabbitohs, who find themselves in a tight race for a top-eight finish. Winning at least three or four of their remaining matches now appears essential for qualification.
Compounding the challenges for head coach Wayne Bennett, the team will also be without Cameron Murray and Tallis Duncan this weekend, as both players are set to miss several weeks due to injuries.