Mitchell Pearce has been suspended from the first eight rounds of the new NRL season and fined $75,000 for his drunken, lewd Australia Day antics.
The NSW and Sydney Roosters star was hit with the ban and a $125,000 fine, $50,000 of which has been suspended for two years, after 24 hours of heated discussions between Roosters powerbrokers Nick Politis and John Lee and the NRL's most senior official, ARLC Commissioner John Grant.
The punishment follows the emergence of a video showing Pearce simulating a sex act with a dog at a party after a long day of Australia Day celebrations.
The Roosters hoped for a ban of around three to four weeks, with the NRL pushing for a heftier sanction of 12 weeks.
In the end the parties met in the middle after Pearce himself conceded a longer ban was required.
The Roosters welcomed the closure.
"This was a complex and unprecedented matter that required careful consideration," Lee said.
"It was paramount we delivered the appropriate level of discipline, but neither could we ignore the player welfare component.
"It was pleasing to see that Mitchell contacted our chairman Nick Politis and suggested that the lengthy stint on the sideline was what he deserved.
Pearce said his focus was now entirely on his continuing rehabilitation.
"Firstly, for any hurt or damage I've caused anyone, especially my family, the club and the NRL, I again apologise," he said in a statement.
"Now that this has been decided, I can get on with my rehab, bunker down with training and work each day on making the right choices in what I do."
The punishment means Pearce's hopes of keeping his NSW State of Origin jersey remain alive.
He can return for the Roosters on April 30 in their round nine clash with Newcastle at Allianz Stadium.
That will give him three matches to impress Blues coach Laurie Daley before he picks his side for State of Origin I on May 24.
Pearce, who spent a month in a rehab clinic and was stripped of the Roosters co-captaincy, will return to club training on Monday.
The key playmaker's ban throws a huge load on young Roosters halves Jackson Hastings and Jayden Nikorima to steer their team through the first two months of the competition.
Roosters teammates appeared resigned to Pearce's long stint on the sideline.
"If that's what it is, we just have to cop it on the chin," said Roosters back-rower Aidan Guerra.
Pearce spoke to his teammates about the incident at training on Monday.
"He was very apologetic and we accepted that," utility Mitch Aubusson said.
"And now we move on to the footy on Sunday."
The Roosters open their season on Sunday against South Sydney at Allianz Stadium.
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