North Queensland has been dealt a blow ahead of their knockout final against the Roosters, with backrower Tariq Sims lodging an early guilty plea and copping a five-week suspension for his shoulder charge on Justin Hodges.

It was thought the Cowboys may appeal the grade-three charge at the NRL judiciary on Wednesday night but Sims elected to take the plea, meaning he will miss five weeks of football (525 points).

Sims will be joined on the sidelines by Manly back-rower Anthony Watmough who said via Twitter that he would not fight a dangerous throw charge.

"Unfortunately our lawyer said there was to much to risk in challenging the @NRL lets all support the boys and get them home this week," tweeted Watmough.

The Sea Eagles will play Canterbury on Saturday night.

The early plea by Sims, who will link with the Newcastle Knights in 2015, ensures he has now played his final game in Cowboys colours.

The tackle in question happened during the second half of North Queensland's win over the Broncos in Townsville on Saturday night. Hodges was left bloodied and dazed and with little recollection of the hit.

The Cowboys had hoped the NRL Match Review Committee would see the incident as more of a head clash than a late shoulder charge but hopes were dashed when a grade three offence was handed out.

It will be a bitter blow for Sims and the Cowboys, who would have loved to have the aggressive, abrasive Sims on board to combat a star-studded Roosters backrow featuring Sonny Bill Williams and Aidan Guerra.

But coach Paul Green will now be able to prepare for the game without the distraction of a judiciary hearing. Their squad for Friday's match will be announced later on Tuesday.