North Queensland have been hit with another blow following their derby victory against Brisbane, as star forward Griffin Neame has been handed a suspension.
The NRL's Match Review Committee (MRC) gave the 25-year-old a one-game ban with an early guilty plea, although he risks collecting a two-match suspension if he appeals the decision and is found guilty at the judiciary.
It comes after he employed a careless high tackle on Ben Talty in the first half of their 18-10 victory on Saturday.
Neame's absence will be a big loss for the Cowboys, as the eight-placed side are just one win clear of ninth and are looking to make the post-season for the first time since 2024.
With a crucial clash with the high-flying Sydney Roosters next Thursday night, coach Todd Payten would have wanted a full-strength team to get them over the line.
But with hooker Reed Mahoney concussed in the seventh minute of Saturday's clash, Payten will be forced to make changes.
Superstar halfback Tom Dearden will also miss the Roosters clash as he nurses a leg injury a week after returning from an ankle issue.
But in some positive news for the Cowboys, they will have young gun Jaxon Purdue available for next Thursday after he faced a nervous wait following dangerous contact with Xavier Willison.
The MRC opted only to hand him a $1000 fine if he accepts an early guilty plea.
