NZ Warriors hooker Freddy Lussick has copped a four-week ban for dangerous contact that has left South Sydney's Rabbitohs halfback Lachlan Ilias with a broken leg.
During the final play of last weekend's NSW Cup fixture, Lussick's attempted charge down of Ilias' kick went awry, resulting in a horrific snap. Ilias was carried from the field in agony, while Lussick was sent off after a heated on-field melee.
Ilias has since undergone surgery for his broken tibia, with his season essentially over.
Due to the gravity of the incident, it wasn't given any grading and was instead referred directly to the NSWRL judiciary, who handed down the ban at Wednesday's night hearings.
While there was no malice in Lussick's seemingly routine chargedown attempt, the responsibility is on the tackler to avoid the legs of a player kicking the ball - an area the NRL is trying to crack down on.
The punishment was initially expected to be up to eight weeks and the Warriors will be relieved Lussick has escaped at the lower end of the scale.
The Australian is currently the squad's only specialist hooker behind standout Wayde Egan, who has proven injury prone.
Utility Chanel Harris-Tavita will likely fill that role off the bench on Saturday, when the Warriors host Manly Sea Eagles at Go Media Stadium.
Lussick's absence is another blow to the Warriors' forward stocks, with Bunty Afoa (hamstring) and Marata Niukore (foot) facing long-term absences with injury, and Dylan Walker also unavailable due to his troublesome ankle.
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