CESSNOCK have been dealt their second suspension blow on finals eve with centre Jarred Anderson now ruled out of their elimination semi alongside captain-coach Harry Siejka.
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Anderson won't play again this season unless the fourth-placed Goannas reach the Newcastle Rugby League decider on September 11, having been banned for three matches.
It comes as Maitland's Pat Mata'utia, charged out of the same last-round fixture, was found not guilty by the judiciary on Wednesday night.
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Anderson, who joined Cessnock this year, entered an early guilty plea this week after being hit with a grade-one shoulder charge by the match review committee.
It was Anderson's third offence for 2022.
The incident occurred in the 68th minute of Cessnock's 12-8 loss to Maitland on Saturday when Anderson attempted to tackle Pickers fullback Matt Soper-Lawler.
Anderson will be sidelined with Siejka, who also took an early guilty plea this week.
The halfback copped one game for a contrary conduct charge after making contact with a touch judge.
Cessnock host fifth-placed Souths on Sunday with the winner advancing to next weekend's minor semi-final while the loser gets knocked out.
Mata'utia, however, breathed a sigh of relief after top-ranked Maitland successfully fought a careless high tackle charge which threatened to completely wipe him out of play-offs.
The Pickers second-rower is now free to play next weekend's major semi-final.
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Josh Callinan
My name is Josh Callinan and I'm a sports journalist at the Newcastle Herald. I started with the newspaper in 2016 after a decade at the Maitland Mercury.
My name is Josh Callinan and I'm a sports journalist at the Newcastle Herald. I started with the newspaper in 2016 after a decade at the Maitland Mercury.
