RAIDER COPS FIVE GAMES FOR SLATER HIT:

CANBERRA forward Sia Soliola has been suspended for five games for the dangerous contact that knocked Melbourne fullback Billy Slater out cold.

Soliola’s defence last night argued that the hit on Slater was careless and not reckless, and that the Raider deserved only a three-week ban given the Storm fullback was falling in the tackle.

But in a 100-minute hearing, NRL counsel Anthony Lo Surdo told the three-man panel of Bob Lindner, Shaun Garlick and Mal Cochrane that the hit was reckless and needed a six-week ban.

The ban means Soliola will be back for the Raiders’ Round 26 game, ironically against the Storm.

Soliola arrived at League Central with his lawyer for the 6pm hearing, flanked by coach Ricky Stuart and high profile lawyer Nick Ghabar after being referred directly to the judiciary without a grading.

The back-rower pleaded guilty after he controversially avoided a send off for the high tackle that saw Slater taken from the ground on a medicab.

In the immediate aftermath of Saturday’s game referees boss Tony Archer released an unprecedented statement declaring Soliola should have been marched, a move the Raiders believe could prejudice the NRL’s judicial process.

Of the 12 players referred straight to the NRL judiciary since 2002, five weeks was the lowest ban while Melbourne’s Danny Williams has the record for the longest suspension with 18 weeks.