Cowboys star's season over after big ban
Hess was whacked with a grade 2 dangerous contact charge – his third and subsequent offence – and risks missing four matches if he fights the charge at the judiciary and loses.
Papalii was held up by two Cowboys defenders before Hess drove in hard below the knee and was penalised.
The seventh-minute tackle didn't result in a sin bin and Papalii was able to play on, with Immortal Andrew Johns saying in commentary 'we've got to get that out of the game, the third man coming in is so dangerous'.
The contact comes a week after Dolphins veteran Felise Kaufusi was also banned for two matches for a similar tackle that broke Jacob Laban's leg and left the Warriors fuming that the former Origin star wasn't suspended for longer.
The tackle is one of the most dangerous acts in the game and there have been calls from experts for the NRL to change the rules to protect ball carriers.
The suspension is a blow given Hess has been in sparkling form for the struggling Cowboys, with coach Todd Payten mystified as to why he wasn't in the mix for an Origin recall earlier this year.
Hess ran for 190m on Sunday – the most of any forward in the game – but is now set to miss North Queensland's remaining three matches.
'I was surprised he wasn't considered for Origin this year considering they made some changes after the first game,' Payten said.
'I thought he'd be perfectly suited to come off the bench in that arena (and bring) hell and fury for 15-20 minutes.
'If he continues this form for another 12 months, he should be in the mix.'
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