Burleigh Bears hooker Pat Politoni has been hit with a three-match suspension for punching Townsville Blackhawks half-back Michael Parker-Walshe in an Intrust Super Cup match on Sunday.
The former Wests Tigers, Cronulla and Gold Coast rake pleaded guilty to a striking charge at the judiciary on Wednesday night after knocking Parker-Walshe out cold with a sickening punch that went viral.
Politoni was facing an eight-match suspension for the charge which carried 800 demerit points.
But the 28-year-old’s ban was slashed to three games after he received reductions due to his early guilty plea, a clean record over the past seven years and time served off the field on Sunday after he was sent off.
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The final penalty was 360 demerits points, meaning he’ll miss three games and now has 60 carry-over points on his record.
Politoni’s punishment followed a shock concession from Parker-Walshe that he contributed to the incident after pushing the hooker in the head from behind moments before the brutal blow was delivered.
"It was probably a bit of a d---head move on my part," Parker-Walshe said.
"To be completely honest, I have watched the incident and I was being a bit of a smart arse.”
"We play a contact sport, and in the heat of the moment, that was his reaction. If we all had our time again, I wouldn't have patted him on the head.”
