NZ Kiwis winger Jordan Rapana faces a spell on the sidelines, after suffering a blow to the head during Canberra Raiders' 20-14 win over Brisbane Broncos.
In the dying moments of the game at Brisbane, Rapana settled under a high kick from Broncos half Adam Reynolds, but was hit hard by chasers Marty Taupau and Kurt Capewell, catching Taupau's knee to the head and staying down.
Rapana, 32, was visibly groggy from the contact and was medicabbed off the field, with blood pouring from the wound, while former NZ teammate Taupau will face charges for his dangerous tackle.
"He'll be out next week, but it was an accident," said Raiders coach Ricky Stuart. "I feel sorry for Marty Taupau, he didn't mean to do that.
"It was an unfortunate collision. He came in looking for Jordy [to see how he was] and that was really good of him."
Rapana was a hero of the Raiders' upset, scoring two tries, as Brisbane suffered their first defeat of the NRL season.
The injury could not come at a worse time for him, after he missed three games through suspension for a shoulder charge in the Raiders' season-openingg to North Queensland Cowboys.
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