Mitch Kenny faces ban after Nathan Cleary injured in 24-22 Penrith Panthers’ loss to Melbourne

Mitch Kenny looks set to join Nathan Cleary on the sidelines in Penrith’s run to the NRL finals after receiving a one-match ban following the loss to Melbourne.

The match review committee charged Kenny with a grade-two careless high tackle for his shot on Grant Anderson late in the second half of the Storm’s 24-22 win on Thursday night.

The Storm winger finished the game on the sidelines undergoing head injury assessment, but referee Ash Klein opted not to sin-bin Kenny.

The hooker is now set to miss next Saturday’s away clash against Canberra, with Soni Luke and Luke Summerton both options to start at dummy half.

Dual-premiership winner Kenny will also miss the subsequent match against South Sydney if he unsuccessfully challenges his charge at the judiciary.

It means the Panthers will likely make two changes to their spine for the Raiders clash after talismanic halfback Cleary suffered a shoulder injury against the Storm.

The injury looms as a potentially devastating blow to the Panthers’ hopes of clinching a fourth consecutive NRL premiership and means either Jack Cole or Daine Laurie will partner Jarome Luai in the halves against Canberra.

The news is better for Storm prop Nelson Asofa-Solomona, who escaped suspension for the high shot on Laurie that also collected his Storm teammate Cameron Munster.

Asofa-Solomona went to the sin bin at BlueBet Stadium but was only charged with a grade-one careless high tackle.

He can pay an $1,800 fine with an early guilty plea and will be free to face the Dolphins next Saturday.

Elsewhere, Penrith James Fisher-Harris escaped sanction for the late hit on Jahrome Hughes that put the Storm in position to kick the winning penalty goal on Thursday night.

NSW second-rower Liam Martin is set to return to the Panthers’ right edge for the trip to the nation’s capital after missing the loss to the Storm through his own suspension.