League: Wiki cops four match suspension

Kiwis captain Ruben Wiki will be available to lead New Zealand in next month's Anzac Test but he will be woefully short of match practice after copping a four-match National Rugby League (NRL) suspension today.

The New Zealand Warriors today entered an early guilty plea on Wiki's behalf after the veteran was reported for a grade three careless high tackle late in the 24-12 defeat of the Brisbane Broncos on Saturday night.

Had the club chosen to contest the charge at the NRL judiciary tomorrow night and lost, the veteran would have missed the Anzac Test against the Kangaroos at Brisbane's Suncorp Stadium on April 22.

Wiki was placed on report by English referee Russell Smith for a 72nd minute hit on Broncos lock David Stagg.

It appeared Stagg had fallen into the tackle but the club were unwilling to risk a not guilty plea.

Brought in this season to add steel and experience to the Warriors' pack, Wiki will miss Sunday's clash with North Queensland at Ericsson Stadium plus a home game against South Sydney, the Wests Tigers "home" game at Christchurch's Jade Stadium and the Warriors visit to Newcastle to take on the Knights on April 17.

The Kiwis will assemble after the Newcastle match and head to the Gold Coast in preparation for the trans-Tasman clash.

Wiki, a veteran of 43 internationals, will only have two matches under his belt before the test -- the Warriors opening round game against Manly and Saturday's win over Brisbane.

He would have faced only a three-match suspension but his disciplinary record included four similar offences in the last two years, ensuring points from previous incidents carried over.

Meanwhile, the Melbourne Storm's Kiwis prop Alex Chan will miss two matches for striking after the competition leaders also entered an early guilty plea.

And Manly winger John Hopoate threw himself on the mercy of the NRL judiciary today when he pleaded guilty to a striking charge which is likely to end his turbulent career.

Hopoate will front NRL headquarters tonight to answer the charge, which was referred directly to the judiciary, and faces of lengthy suspension.

Former NRL commissioner Jim Hall believes Hopoate's poor judiciary record and the gravity of the high shot on Cronulla's Keith Galloway will result in a 20-match ban for the 31-year-old Tongan.

That would be the longest sentence handed out by the NRL judiciary since the league's inception in 1998, surpassing the 18-match ban dished out to Danny Williams last year.

Seven other players charged entered early guilty pleas today and were banned for a total of 13 matches between them.

St George Illawarra was hardest hit, losing three players on separate charges for a total of four games.

Cronulla utility Greg Bird will miss two matches for a grade one dangerous throw and Parramatta hooker Mark Riddell pleaded guilty to a grade one dangerous throw and will miss his side's tussle with the Sharks at Parramatta Stadium on Saturday night.

- NZPA and AAP