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Canterbury prop Jack Hetherington is facing up to six NRL games on the sidelines for his high shot on Valentine Holmes, which resulted in him being sent off.

Canterbury enforcer Jack Hetherington faces a mammoth six games on the sidelines for his high shot on Valentine Holmes, which resulted in him being the first player sent off in the NRL this season.

Hetherington was on Monday charged with a grade-three careless high tackle, the highest level available without referring a player straight to the judiciary.

The charge would normally only come with a three-game ban but Hetherington's poor record at the judiciary has come back to haunt him.

Hetherington's demerit points are increased by 120 per cent due to his long list of offences, including two previous careless high-tackle charges.

It means that even in the best-case scenario Hetherington will escape with a five-match ban if he pleads guilty without contesting the grading.

Any ban will mark the sixth of 24-year-old Hetherington's career, after already missing 10 matches through suspension in his 29-game NRL career.

Hetherington's send off on Sunday made him the first player marched from an NRL field since Cronulla's Chad Townsend last year.

Holmes was able to remain in the game after the hit, as the Bulldogs launched a late comeback before going down 30-18.

It prompted Canterbury players to question the severity of the on-field punishment, with fullback Dallin Watene-Zelezniak believing it was soft.

"I get 10 in the bin, maybe ... but for a send-off, come on," Watene-Zelezniak told AAP.

"I'm not going to get into the politics of it but I mean, if he (Holmes) went off with a head knock and was concussed, then, yeah.

"Ten minutes, maybe, but it was a bit harsh, but like I said, we started playing better so we'll take confidence out of that."

Canterbury coach Trent Barrett also indicated post-match he didn't agree with the referees decision and was certain the hit from the former Penrith prop wasn't intentional.