Latrell Mitchell's NRL season is over with the South Sydney fullback accepting a six-week ban for a reckless high tackle that fractured Joey Manu's eye socket.
The Rabbitohs superstar will miss the entire 2021 finals series and up to two games at the start of next season for pleading guilty to the grade two charge on Sunday morning.
The 24-year-old risked a nine-game ban if he fought the charge at the NRL judiciary, while even a downgrade for the charge would not have guaranteed he would return this season.
It comes as a huge blow to the title chances for the third-placed Souths who can mathematically still finish in the top two with a win over St George Illawarra next weekend.
Without their star fullback the Rabbitohs will be forced to play either Blake Taafe, Cody Walker or Alex Johnston at No.1.
It will be the second season in a row Mitchell has missed the back end of the season for Souths, after injury forced him to miss the final seven games of 2020.
Souths lost three of those games without him, including the preliminary final against Penrith.
Mitchell's suspension follows news that champion Roosters centre Manu has undergone successful facial reconstruction surgery in Brisbane, after the 54-12 loss to Souths on Friday night.
Meanwhile, Rabbitohs prop Liam Knight will miss two games including the first week of the finals after accepting the early guilty plea for grade three dangerous contact.
