Melbourne’s Nelson Asofa-Solomona is set to miss Sunday’s decider against Penrith Panthers due to a five-match ban.
The Storm’s enforcer was levied with a grade three charge after a high tackle on Lindsay Collins during the Preliminary finals.
Asofa-Solomona appealed to the judiciary but his plea was overturned.
More: NRL confirmed team lists: Melbourne and Penrith's lineups for the grand final
However, Knights great Andrew Johns believes that a wrong call was made and called for the deferral of one-match suspensions for grand finals.
"They got the grading wrong, there's no way that was grade three," he said on Wide World of Sports' Freddy & The Eighth.
Johns brought up the case of Asofa-Solomona’s former teammate Cameron Smith who missed the grand final in 2008 after a grapple tackle on Brisbane's Sam Thaiday.
The Storm lost the final 40-0.
Prior to this in 2004, Roosters legend Luke Ricketson was also met with a similar fate after he was charged with striking Cowboys halfback Nathan Fien.
The Bulldogs won that grand final 16-13.
"If it's one week... defer it," Johns said.
"You talk to Cameron Smith, he's still shattered by it. Ricko he was another one, what for? For sticking up for his mate and punching someone? It's ridiculous.
"For the rest of your life you've got to live with not playing in a grand final because you got a one-week suspension.
"And have a look at Cameron, they got beaten 40-0 because he wasn't there."
Meanwhile, Nelson Asofa-Solomona is preparing to support his team on all fronts.
"Obviously I'm very disappointed with the result, but I had a fair hearing. All my energy will go towards my team to get the result," he said after the appeal.
