Newcastle forward Asu Kepaoa has been referred directly to the NSW Rugby League judiciary for allegedly making a homophobic slur in a NSW Cup game.
The former Wests Tigers forward was sent from the field just before halftime in the Knights' reserve-grade defeat of St George Illawarra on Friday.
He has until midday on Tuesday to enter a plea ahead of Wednesday night's hearing.
Players are typically referred directly to a judiciary hearing for the most serious offences, or those for which an exact appropriate punishment is not immediately clear.
While playing for the Warriors' NRL side in 2022, Marcelo Montoya notably received a four-game ban for calling North Queensland winger Kyle Feldt a "fa***t".
Max Knobel, Koby Evans, Izak Rankine and Lance Collard are among the AFL-listed players to have been suspended over homophobic slurs in recent seasons.
