Sea Eagles prop Toafofoa Sipley has received four-match ban after being charged with Dangerous Contact on Dragons winger Mat Feagai.
The Manly forward was referred directly to the NRL judiciary and pleaded guilty, but claimed he had been dazed after contact with Feagai's shoulder.
Sipley was sent to the sin bin for the 53rd minute tackle in last Thursday night's 20-18 loss at 4 Pines Park, with Feagai helped from the field by two trainers.
Judiciary panel members Greg McCallum and Tony Puletua agreed on a four-match suspension, which included a discount for Sipley's guilty plea.
Judiciary Chairperson Geoff Bellew SC said in his Summary of Reasons that the panel wanted Sipley's ban to act as a deterrent.
"The Panel’s determination was unanimous, and did not require the casting vote of the Chairperson. Given the player’s plea of guilty, which the Panel took into account, the sole issue was that of penalty, bearing in mind that the charge had been referred directly to the Panel by the Match Review Committee.
"The Panel were prepared to accept that the player was, to use a neutral term, 'stunned' by the contact but did not consider that the evidence was sufficient to support a conclusion that he was affected to the point where he had lost control of his faculties although they certainly did not consider that the player’s actions were intentional.
"The Panel considered it necessary to send a clear message to all players that dangerous contact of this kind will, if established, meet with significant penalties.
"In all of the circumstances, and after allowing for a one match discount to reflect the plea of guilty, the Panel considered that a penalty of four matches was appropriate."
