Wests Tigers forward Martin Taupau has accepted a three-match NRL ban for his swinging arm on Sydney Roosters five-eighth James Maloney.
Taupau submitted an early guilty plea on Tuesday for his grade-three dangerous contact charge from the NRL match review committee, meaning he'll next be available for the Tigers' round-24 clash with Cronulla.
Had he fought the charge at the judiciary and lost, Taupau would have been rubbed out for four games.
Kiwi international prop Taupau was widely panned for the hit on Maloney, but skipper Robbie Farah leapt to the defence of his fiery teammate and denied he was a dirty player.
"It's been a tough few weeks here. When you're losing, you get a bit frustrated out there. That's all it was, just a bit of frustration from Marty," Farah told AAP.
Taupau said he had sought Maloney out after the game and apologised for the offence.
"I was just trying to create something for the boys in a proper manner. I guess it didn't turn out that way," he said prior to the charge.
"I went and seen (sic) the Roosters boys after and apologised to Maloney, and told him there was no malice behind it. I just shook hands with the boys and left it at that."
Meanwhile, Melbourne front-rower Jesse Bromwich is facing a lengthy ban after being charged with biting.
Bromwich was hit with a dangerous contract charge and has been referred directly to the NRL judiciary.
He was accused by St George Illawarra fullback Josh Dugan of biting down on his arm during the Storm's 22-4 win on Saturday.
Injured Canterbury five-eighth Josh Reynolds has accepted a one-game ban after pleading guilty for his hit on Cronulla's Valentine Holmes.
Reynolds connected with the head and neck of Holmes as the youngster attempted a field goal in the dying stages of the Sharks' win at Belmore Sports Ground on Sunday.
But the 26-year-old may have played his last game of the season anyway after he sustained a knee injury during the match that will keep him out for four to six weeks.
Brisbane prop Adam Blair has accepted a two-week suspension for his grade-two shoulder charge on Gold Coast's Kane Elgey, while Newcastle playmaker Tyrone Roberts will be free to play this weekend after taking an early guilty plea for a dangerous throw charge.
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