Canberra duo Joe Tapine and Xavier Savage face suspensions after opening round win in Las Vegas

The Canberra Raiders left Las Vegas with a win but the fallout included suspensions for two players.

Canberra’s thumping win over the Warriors in Las Vegas has come at a cost with inspirational skipper Joseph Tapine and try-scoring machine Xavier Savage facing time on the sidelines after they were charged by the match review committee.

Tapine was hit with a grade 2 shoulder charge offence and can accept a two-match ban if he takes the early guilty plea, while he risks an extra week on the sidelines if he fights it and loses at the judiciary.

The Raiders skipper was sent to the sin bin for his shot on Mitchell Barnett in the second half of their 30-8 win over the Warriors.

You can watch the incident in the video above

Joseph Tapine (right) faces two weeks on the sideline after a shoulder charge on Mitch Barnett. Picture: Ezra Shaw/Getty Images

Canberra’s forward pack is its biggest strength, but the club can’t afford to lose Tapine, who has claimed the Mal Meninga Medal three years in a row as the club’s best player.

“I’m not saying it’s the wrong call, but it’s a massive call, but as long as it stays in every game now,” Raiders coach Ricky Stuart said after the prop rushed out of the line to whack Barnett.

Savage is facing a one-week ban for making dangerous contact on Chanel Harris-Tavita as he put up a high kick in the first half, with the NRL clamping down on the act given it can lead to serious injuries as we saw with Lachlan Ilias in the NSW Cup last year.

Originally published as Canberra duo Joe Tapine and Xavier Savage face suspensions after opening round win in Las Vegas