Taane Milne is set to miss the World Cup for Fiji Bati after being hit with a 6-7 match ban. Bati co-captain Viliame Kikau is free to play in the NRL grand final with a guilty plea.

Penrith forward Viliame Kikau is able to play in the 2022 NRL Telstra Premiership Grand Final after he was charged with a Grade One shoulder charge offence in his side’s Preliminary Final victory.

Kikau, who has already been cited for a shoulder charge offence this year, was charged with the Grade One offence for his tackle on Campbell Graham, bringing with it a fine of $3,000 with an early guilty plea.

Teammate Charlie Staines will also be eligible for selection after he too was charged with a Grade One Shoulder Charge offence — his charge resulting in a fine of $1,500 with an early guilty plea or $2,000 if he unsuccessfully contests the offence at the judiciary.

Rabbitohs winger Taane Milne will miss at least the next six games after he was sensationally sent off for his high tackle on Spencer Leniu late in the game.

Milne, who was named as part of the extended Fiji squad for next month’s Rugby League World Cup, is facing a six-match ban with an early guilty plea or a seven-match ban if he unsuccessfully contests the charge at the judiciary.

He will join Cowboys forward Jason Taumalolo on the sidelines to start the opening World Cup matches after he was charged with a dangerous contact offence in side’s defeat to Parramatta.

Taumalolo was sin-binned for the tackle on Eels forward Isaiah Papali’i in the 15th minute of Friday’s finals match and has subsequently been charged by the Match Review Committee with a Grade Two Dangerous Contact charge.

With an early guilty plea, Taumalolo will miss the opening three matches of Tonga’s World Cup campaign or four matches if he unsuccessfully contests the charge.

Panthers winger Taylan May will be available for selection following his one-game suspension for a careless high tackle, but will now need to overcome a hamstring injury by Wednesday in order to take his place in this year’s Grand Final.