NHRU general manager Andy Fairfull has sent an edict to clubs warning that referee abuse will not be tolerated.
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The directive came after Lake Macquarie centre Ray Alo was suspended for 12 matches on Wednesday night.
"The zone has been advised that referee abuse will be stamped out," Fairfull said. "We will not apply any mitigating factors, it is simple not acceptable."
Alo, who has already served one game, will miss the final two rounds, plus the Roos' finals run and up to four rounds next season.
He was sent off in the dying stages of Lake Macquarie's 19-15 loss to Merewether a fortnight ago.
Named at inside centre in the Roos' best XV at the club's 90th anniversary dinner last month, Alo launched a tirade at referee Nick Gaal and touch judge Lauren Kelly after Merewether lock Lachlan Milton crossed for the match-winning try.
Lake Macquarie believed the pass along the ground to Milton had rolled forward.
In his report, the referee believed the abuse, which included being called a 'cheat', was at the top end of the scale. Under World Rugby sanction guidelines that could have incurred a suspension of 18 plus weeks.
Alo pleaded guilty to referee abuse but argued there were mitigating circumstances.
The judiciary dismissed the defence but deemed the abuse mid range.
Former Sydney Rays NRC centre Brian Sefanaia is likely to replace Alo for the visit by Maitland on Saturday.
