SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - MARCH 20: John Hopoate of the Eagles looks on after being sent off for a high tackle on Keith Galloway during the round two NRL match between the Manly Sea Eagles and the Cronulla Sharks held at Brookvale Oval on March 20, 2005 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Matt King/Getty Images)

The NRL has been hit with plenty of acts of madness over the years on-field, with the match review committee and judiciary forced to work overtime.

While only one player appears on this list - no prizes for guessing who - he doesn't quite hold the record for the longest suspension.

Now, with Round 3 of the 2022 season in the books, there is a threat of a new name entering the books after Newcastle Knights Mitch Barnett clocked Penrith forward Chris Smith with an off the ball elbow during Saturday's clash in Bathurst.

Barnett has been referred straight to the judiciary, with the hearing to be held on Tuesday night.

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11. George Burgess - 9 matches

During a 2019 match between the South Sydney Rabbitohs and Wests Tigers, George Burgess received a nine-match suspension for an eye gouging offence against Robbie Farah.

It ended his season on the spot, with the ugly incident occurring near the tryline.

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