St George Illawarra forward Matt Prior has been suspended for five matches by the NRL judiciary for his elbow to the head of North Queensland captain Johnathan Thurston.
Prior was sent off for the nasty incident last Friday night at Dairy Farmers Stadium and became the first player referred straight to the judiciary without a grading charge since Ben Ross in 2008.
The Dragons back-rower said his actions weren't intentional and argued Thurston had slipped before the impact, resulting in the high contact.
Prior said he was instructed by coach Matt Price to put pressure on Thurston throughout the match and he was simply trying to "bump'' the Cowboys halfback as he believed he had legally earlier in the match.
It took judiciary panel members Mal Cochrane, Bob Lindner and Sean Garlick just a few minutes to decide that Prior's offence should carry 550 points and result in a five-match ban.
