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Canberra star Nick Cotric has been suspended until round 21 against the Sydney Roosters after pleading guilty to a dangerous throw charge.

Canberra star Nick Cotric has copped a "harsh" three-match NRL ban after entering an early guilty plea to his dangerous throw charge, according to teammates.

Cotric was sent off after upending St George Illawarra centre Tim Lafai in an ugly tackle in Wollongong on Sunday.

Raiders coach Ricky Stuart said after the match they'd fight any charges, but after speaking with lawyers, the club accepted the ban rather than risk losing the 20-year-old NSW representative for an additional game.

Cotric will miss games against Wests, Penrith and the Warriors but will now be able to return in the big round 21 clash with fellow top-four team Sydney Roosters.

It was the first send-off since Melbourne's Curtis Scott punched Manly's Dylan Walker in round 11 last year.

Canberra forward Siliva Havilli called the three-game punishment harsh but backed Cotric to learn from the experience.

"It just depends how we all see a spear tackle. Some of us have different opinions and everything but I think it's pretty harsh, especially with a send off too," Havilli said.

"But that's not my call, it's all the judiciary and we'll learn from that and hopefully Nicky does too.

"Nick is always our guy, he's always upbeat and a happy guy and it was sad, we'll miss him for a few weeks but he's all right.

"The good thing about our squad this year is we've got a lot of depth and boys familiar with playing NRL and that really helps."

Canberra fullback Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad said he wished Cotric hadn't been charged but backed the Green Machine's depth to cover the centre.

"He's a special kid in his own right and he does special things for us. I think it was his first touch on the weekend and he scored a try. We'll definitely miss him," Nicoll-Klokstad said.

"It's hard being out, he's a good kid and he'll take a lot out of this break to digest all that stuff but it'll be a good rest for him too.

"I didn't think the foul play stuff was a big issue for us. He's a big kid and strong kid. I'm not too sure about the grading and that, I just know we're here to play footy and they (NRL review panel) are there to do their job."