League: McKinnon facing suspension for contact with ref

Wade McKinnon on Sunday. Photo / Getty Images

SYDNEY - New Zealand Warriors fullback Wade McKinnon faces up to three weeks' suspension after today being charged by the National Rugby League (NRL) review committee for making contact with a referee.

McKinnon was served with a grade three contrary conduct charge after a 74th-minute incident with referee Jason Robinson in yesterday's dramatic 18-16 NRL win over South Sydney here at Telstra Stadium.

He had a running verbal battle with Robinson and was warned late in the game he would be sinbinned if he continued to backchat.

McKinnon will only miss two weeks if he enters an early guilty plea but will be suspended for three weeks if he contests the matter and is found guilty at an NRL judiciary hearing.

McKinnon has been a star for the Warriors since his off-season move from Parramatta and he scored a 45m try yesterday that sparked the Auckland-based club's remarkable come from behind win over the Rabbitohs.

Parramatta's Daniel Wagon also faces a contrary conduct charge, given a grade one for a head slam in the loss to the Gold Coast yesterday.

Wagon will escape a ban if he enters an early guilty plea or miss one week if found guilty.

St George Illawarra captain Ben Hornby, Brisbane's Darius Boyd and South Sydney's Dean Widders were all given grade one dangerous throw charges today.

The trio will be free to play this week if they enter early guilty pleas but could face a one week suspension if they choose to fight the charges.

- AAP