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Cronulla trio Chad Townsend, Wade Graham and Toby Rudolf have taken early guilty pleas on NRL charges from their heavy loss to Newcastle.

Cronulla will be without halfback Chad Townsend for three weeks and skipper Wade Graham for two after they both took an early guilty plea on match review charges stemming from their NRL game against Newcastle.

Townsend was facing a five-week ban for his hit on the Knights' Kalyn Ponga on Friday, which deemed a grade three shoulder charge.

He will still only play again if the Sharks hold their spot in the eight and make the finals.

Graham accepted a two-week ban for a dangerous throw charge for a lifting tackle on Mason Lino and will be available for their final round match against Canberra.

Toby Rudolf, who was involved in the same tackle but with his offence only deemed grade one, escaped suspension after also taking an early guilty plea.