Canberra Raiders fullback Jack Wighton's season may be over a week early after he was slapped with a grade two careless high tackle charge for his hit which forced Penrith's Jamie Soward off the field with concussion on Monday.
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Soward was admitted to hospital after he was crunched by Wighton in a one-on-one hit just before half-time, after which play was halted for several minutes.
Wighton can accept 112 points with an early guilty plea, meaning he would miss Canberra's final game of the season at Parramatta on Sunday.
If he contests the charge at the judiciary and loses, he will still only miss one game and have 50 carryover points.
The Raiders are yet to decide whether to contest, but given they're out of finals contention they may be unwilling to risk extra carryover points.
Wighton has been cited despite the officials ruling it didn't even warrant a penalty after the video referees watched several replays of the incident.
It would mean the Raiders 'spine' would be forced into a major reshuffle, with five-eighth Blake Austin's season over after he left the field with a shoulder injury in the 34-18 win.
Josh McCrone appears favourite to take his place in the no.6 jersey while Sisa Waqa or Jordan Rapana, set to return from a two week shoulder charge ban, are the leading fullback options should Wighton miss.
