NEWCASTLE Knights back-rower Jeremy Smith last night failed in his bid to have a dangerous contact charge downgraded at the NRL judiciary and will miss six games.
The New Zealand representative was effectively always going to miss tomorrow night's Test against Australia after he pleaded guilty, but he was hopeful of a downgrade to two weeks.
Instead the initial charge was upheld. He will now be suspended for five NRL games plus the Test in Canberra.
Smith was the second man involved in the tackle on Penrith's Matt Robinson during Newcastle's 8-6 win over the Panthers on Saturday at Hunter Stadium.
His arm and elbow came into contact with Robinson's face and the Penrith player's head hit the ground heavily after the contact.
The initial grading carried a four-match ban but because of a prior offence in the past two years Smith was suspended for six.
Tohu Harris was called into the Kiwis' squad.
Meanwhile, South Sydney prop Jeff Lima will become the latest former New Zealand international to play for Samoa when it tackles Tonga at Penrith.
Lima follows the likes of his Samoa teammates Roy Asotasi, Junior Sa'u, Kalifa Faifai Loa and Ben Roberts in switching allegiances.
Samoa coach Steve Price yesterday finalised his team for Saturday's Test, with one eye on the end-of-season World Cup in England and Wales.
"Finalising my squad for this weekend's Test was a lot more difficult than it was two years ago, which is testament to the growth of the game in the Pacific," Price said. Matthew Wright will play fullback and is one of three Cronulla players in Price's team.
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