An NRL promotional video is as close as David Fifita will get to playing in the Magic Round after the Gold Coast star was banned for two matches at the judiciary.
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Fifita on Tuesday night failed in his bid to have a grade-two careless high tackle charge downgraded, which would have let him accepting a fine.
Instead the second-rower will now cop two matches rather than just the one he would have missed with an early guilty plea.
The ban comes on the same night the NRL released promotional content for the Brisbane extravaganza on their social media feeds, with Fifita featuring as the Titans' man.
Injured Canberra winger Jordan Rapana is also part of the video.
Fifita was sin-binned late in the Titans' win over Wests Tigers on Saturday night, when he hung his arm out and collected Adam Doueihi high.
After the match coach Justin Holbrook claimed the sin-bin was sufficient and did not believe any ban would be necessary.
But Fifita will now not only miss a crunch clash with Penrith on Sunday night, but the following week's game against Canterbury as well.
It means he will also play just one game in the month before State of Origin I at the MCG on June 9.
Meanwhile North Queensland forward Mitchell Dunn also lost his challenge of a contrary conduct charge for his role in a melee.
The 24-year-old will now cop a $2100 fine for his contact on Brisbane's Matt Lodge in the Cowboys' one-point win.
Australian Associated Press
