Panthers hooker Mitch Kenny facing three-game ban for hip drop tackle on Nat Butcher

The Panthers will be without one of their key spine players for a number of weeks following an ugly hip drop tackle which left a Roosters forward with an MCL injury.

Penrith hooker Mitch Kenny is facing a three-game ban for a hip drop tackle on Nat Butcher that is set to sideline the Roosters forward for up to 10 weeks.

Kenny was hit with a grade two dangerous contact charge for the tackle that forced Butcher off the field with an MCL injury in the opening exchanges of Saturday night’s clash.

At the time, Kenny’s tackle did not draw any attention from the on-field referee or the video bunker and was not penalised or put on report.

This masthead understands Butcher is now set to be rubbed out for between eight to 10 weeks as a result of the dangerous tackle.

Kenny will also miss Penrith’s next two games against the Sea Eagles and the Broncos if he accepts an early plea.

Roosters coach Trent Robinson was left fuming at the lack of on-field action from officials on Saturday night.

“He has got an MCL injury, it is pretty disappointing,” Robinson said after the game.

Mitch Kenny is facing a three-game ban. Picture: NRL Photos

“Nothing was mentioned at all in the game, but in the tackle he gets an MCL injury and he is done for the night.”

Confusion over the hip-drop has been at the centre of debate in recent weeks but Robinson said Kenny’s tackle was a clear cut example of the illegal tackle.

“I don’t know, there is no confusion there, well not from my point of view,” Robinson said.

“I don’t know how it was there, but not to even have a discussion and a guy to do an MCL and (be) finished for the game, it is pretty clear.”

Penrith coach Ivan Cleary is likely to turn to reserve grade captain Luke Sommerton as Kenny’s replacement this week against the Sea Eagles.

Roosters forward Naufahu Whyte is free to take on the Dragons in Friday’s Anzac Day clash after he escaped a suspension for a high shot on Penrith’s Lindsay Smith.

Whyte was whacked with a $1,000 fine, with an early plea, for the grade one careless high tackle.