Canberra Raiders forward Hudson Young faces a lengthy ban, after being charged by the match review committee for eye-gouging during his sides 24-20 loss to the NZ Warriors.
His case has been referred straight to the judiciary, which indicates the seriousness of his offense, with some pundits speculating a suspension in access of 20 weeks.
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Footage appeared to show Young make contact with the face of Adam Pompey as the Warriors winger scored a try in the 30th minute.
While it's unclear whether it was international, Young's fingers did appear to go in Pompey's eyes.
Despite the incident occurring in the first half, it wasn't picked up until later replays during an injury break, with six minutes remaining in the contest.
Rookie Young was suspended for five weeks earlier this season for a similar incident.
Commentator Brent Finch described as "disgraceful".
"He's a repeat offender," Finch said. "Watch these hands - they come in for another crack.
"Yeah he's gone, he's got serious issues. He's done it before - that is absolute garbage.
"That is rubbish. That's not what our game is about - that is a disgraceful act... look at the pressure on his eyes here.
"That is terrible. He [Pompey] should react, he should put one straight on his chin.
"He could go anywhere from 12-20 weeks and why shouldn't he? He's done it before."
Rugby league Immortal Andrew Johns agreed with Finch's comments saying a lengthy ban.
"Fair dinkum, his next season will be over,” Johns said on Channel 9.
"He came back from five weeks, so to do it again, you’re looking at 20 weeks or a season.”
When asked about the incident post-match, Warriors coach Stephen Kearney said it "didn't look good", while Raiders boss Ricky Stuart leapt to the defence of his player.
"I've only briefly seen it, I know he didn't gouge the kid," Stuart said.
"There was a hand on the face, from what I've seen on the video, and it's something I've got to look at again and get a clearer version of it.
"It reminds me of the Josh Maguire incidents, where he got fined for whatever they call it on the face.
"I went straight to him and asked him if it was a gouge, and he said 'no' and he's spoken to the other player.
"If it was an eye-gouge - and look I don't condone any of this - [but] if it was an eye-gouge, the kid would reel out of that and he didn't."
The NRL has come down hard on eye-gouging this year, with South Sydney Rabbitohs prop George Burgess just completing a nine-match ban, after he was found guilty of attacking Robbie Farah's face in round 15.
Josh McGuire also missed three weeks for the Cowboys, after gouging Broncos forward David Fifita, while he was also fined for a similar incident earlier this season.
The Raiders face the Storm in the first round of the NRL finals series.
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