Newcastle's personnel woes have deepened with State of Origin prop Jacob Saifiti set to be banned for at least five NRL games for his high shot on Wests Tigers hooker Jake Simpkin.
The Knights had already lost influential players Kalyn Ponga, Jayden Brailey (concussions) and Tyson Frizell (ankle) when Saifiti hit Simpkin from marker in the 65th minute of Newcastle's 14-12 win on Sunday.
As Simpkin ran against the grain, he was struck in the head by Saifiti's shoulder and fell to the ground, apparently unconscious.
Simpkin was eventually able to walk from the field for a head injury assessment and did not return, given the game had only 15 minutes to run - the time required for a HIA.
Saifiti became the first player sent off this season but Newcastle held on for a gutsy victory with only 12 men on the park.
On Monday the NRL match review committee categorised Saifiti's hit as a grade-three reckless high tackle, the worst grading possible for a high shot.
He will miss five weeks with an early guilty plea but risks six weeks on the sidelines if he unsuccessfully challenges his charge at the judiciary on Tuesday.
Knights halfback Jackson Hastings avoided suspension for the high shot that broke Tommy Talau's nose and sparked a confrontation between the former teammates at full-time.
Hastings attempted to apologise to Talau on field but the Tigers centre pushed him away, leading former Knight David Klemmer to join the fracas.
Security and Knights head of football Peter Parr moved in to separate the rival players.
Hastings can accept a $1800 fine for his grade one careless high tackle.
Meanwhile, Dolphins hooker Jeremy Marshall-King has been suspended for two games for his hip drop tackle on Canberra's Corey Horsburgh on Saturday.
Marshall-King took the early guilty plea and will miss the Dolphins' clash with the Knights and the first Brisbane derby against the Broncos.
