Brisbane forward Ben Te’o is facing a minimum three-week ban after copping a grade three dangerous contact charge for his shoulder charge which knocked out Wests Tigers prop Matt Groat.

The hefty charge from the NRL match video review panel on Monday means he’ll miss three matches if he takes an early guilty plea and four if he contests the charge and loses.

Groat was knocked unconscious by the hit in last Friday night’s loss to the Broncos at Allianz Stadium and has already been ruled out of the Tigers’ clash with Penrith this weekend.

Te’o had widely been expected receive a lower grade one charge, following the precedents set earlier this season by Frank Pritchard and Manu Vatuvei when charged for making shoulder contact with the head of an opposition player.

However Te’o’s contact was deemed to be far worse and despite having no prior offences to his name the back-rower is facing a lengthy stint on the sidelines.

The NRL has said it is comfortable with its rules regarding the shoulder charge despite a growing push for the style of tackle, which is illegal in rugby union, to be banned as dangerous.

South Sydney forward Roy Asotasi was the only other player charged from the weekend’s action, attracting a grade one charge for a careless high tackle on Canterbury’s Aiden Tolman on Friday.

Asotasi will be sidelined for much of the season with a pectoral injury, however he will escape suspension regardless of his plea.