George Burgess' South Sydney playing career might be over, as Robbie Farah implores the NRL to eradicate the eye gouge.
The Rabbitohs' star prop on Friday was referred straight to the judiciary and is facing a lengthy ban for an alleged eye gouge on Farah in the Wests Tigers' 14-9 win over Souths.
Burgess became the first player sent straight to the judiciary since Canberra's Sio Soliola for his infamous late hit on Billy Slater in 2017.
The base penalty for a grade-three dangerous contact charge is five weeks.
Given the match review committee believe it is more serious than that, he is already facing the prospect of several months on the sidelines.
But any ban will also include 50 per cent loading because of his poor record after being rubbed out last year for four weeks for an eye gouge on Dallin Watene-Zelezniak.
The Rabbitohs have just nine regular-season matches left and the off-contract front-rower might find himself struggling to get back on the park before the end of 2019.
Replays showed Burgess' fingers making contact with Farah's face during a tackle early in the first half, however it was unclear whether his fingers had dug into the veteran's eyes.
Farah revealed Burgess had apologised to him on the field and the No.9 was adamant contact had been made with his eyes.
"My eye's pretty sore," Farah said.
"It's hard for me to comment because whatever I say is going to incriminate the bloke. But I felt it and it was sufficient enough to get a reaction.
"I don't know what he was thinking but he apologised to me. No hard feelings and I accept his apology."
Canberra forward Hudson Young earlier this month was rubbed out for five weeks for a grade-three eye gouge on Aiden Tolman.
North Queensland firebrand Josh McGuire has twice this year escaped with a fine for contrary conduct for facials on Cameron Munster and Dylan Walker.
The NRL was forced to defend its decision not to charge McGuire with a more-serious offence, arguing neither victim made complaints.
NRL CEO Todd Greenberg and head of football Graham Annesley will come under pressure to crack down on eye gouging.
And Farah said he wanted to see the gouge stamped out in the same way the league had cracked down on crusher tackles and late hits.
"Eye gouging, biting, those sorts of things, we can't have that in the game. It's not a good look," Farah said.
"The high tackle and things like that can be accidental in a split second.
"But I just don't think there's an excuse for those other things. I don't like seeing it in the game."
BURGESS' LENGTHY RAP SHEET:
* Test, 2018-contrary conduct (eye gouge) - 4 weeks
* round 7, 2018 - careless high tackle - 0 weeks
* round 8, 2017-shoulder charge, grade 2 - 4 weeks
* round 3, 2017 - striking, grade 2 - 2 weeks
* round 26, 2015 - contrary conduct (throwing water bottle) grade 2 - 2 weeks
* round 22, 2014- dangerous contact (chicken wing) grade 2 - 2 weeks
* round 6, 2014 - tripping, grade 1 - 1 week
* round 3, 2014 - careless high tackle, grade 1- 0 weeks.
