Cronulla back-rower Jeremy Smith will miss Monday night’s NRL clash with the Sydney Roosters after pleading no contest to a dangerous contact charge.
The Sharks made the tactical decision to cop the one-week ban rather than take the early guilty plea given Smith would have been unavailable to play against the Roosters due to a medial ligament strain.
It means he will be saddled with just 20 carry-over points in the run into the finals, rather than the 90 he would have had with an early plea, which could have come back to haunt him had he been charged again this season.
Sharks officials said there was still no word on how long Smith would be sidelined, with the possibility he could return for the round 20 meeting with former club St George Illawarra.
His Cronulla teammate Wade Graham will play against the Roosters after pleading guilty to a careless high tackle charge, his penalty being 56 carry-over points.
Meanwhile Canberra centre Blake Ferguson can escape suspension with an early plea after he was charged over a grapple tackle in Monday night’s upset win over the Dragons.
Ferguson will miss a week if he unsuccessfully challenges the charge, but will be free to play against Melbourne on Saturday night with an early guilty plea.