Canberra forward Sia Soliola has been suspended for five games for the dangerous contact that knocked Melbourne NRL fullback Billy Slater out cold.

Soliola’s defence argued that the hit on Slater was careless and not reckless, and that the Raider deserved only a three-week ban given the Storm fullback was falling in the tackle.

But in a 100-minute hearing, NRL counsel Anthony Lo Surdo told the three-man panel of Bob Lindner, Shaun Garlick and Mal Cochrane that the hit was reckless and needed a six-week ban.