Newcastle forward Kade Snowden is facing a nine-match ban after he was charged with a Grade 4 Shoulder Charge by the NRL match review committee on Monday.
Snowden was cited for a tackle on North Queensland’s Ray Thompson in the 65th minute of the Knights’ 26-6 loss at 1300SMILES Stadium.
The charge carries a base penalty of 650 points (six-match suspension), but the Newcastle enforcer has two non-similar prior offences, meaning he has 40 per cent loading on the charge plus 48 carry-over points that leave him facing a seven-week suspension with an early guilty plea, or nine matches if he fights the charge at the NRL judiciary and loses.
Snowden needs to successfully fight the charge at the NRL judiciary to play again in the 2013 NRL Telstra Premiership season.
Snowden was sent off by referee Shayne Hayne following the tackle that left Cowboys rake Thompson with a broken jaw.
Bulldogs forward Frank Pritchard was also cited by the NRL match review committee and is facing three matches on the sidelines after he was charged with a Grade 2 Shoulder Charge.
Pritchard was charged for a tackle involving South Sydney’s Bryson Goodwin in the 18th minute of the Bulldogs’ 28-20 loss to the Rabbitohs.
The Bulldogs’ back-rower will miss two matches with an early guilty plea, or three matches if he fights the charge at the NRL judiciary and loses.
If Pritchard takes the early plea, he will not play again until the first week of the NRL Telstra Premiership Finals.
The Bulldogs and Knights have until midday on Tuesday to enter a plea.