Dylan Walker won't play in the NRL again until at least May after becoming the second player to be stood down under the no-fault policy aimed at fixing rugby league's battered image.
Walker's ban headlined a Friday culminating in North Queensland's Scott Bolton suspended for five games, Zane Musgrove left unregistered, Shane Flanagan's NRL career in tatters and almost $3 million in fines and salary-cap penalties handed down.
Walker will be unable to play again until domestic violence charges - which he has denied - are finalised in court, with his next hearing due in May.
His return to the game will also likely depend on the verdict, with the NRL ready to come down on any players convicted of violence against females.
"I think every fan of the game has been appalled by the procession of off-field indiscretions which has made the off-season a terrible one," NRL CEO Todd Greenberg said.
"When I am asked who is our biggest competitor, my answer is always the same - it is us."
The NRL stressed it was not indicating any judgment of guilt or innocence on players, but Walker's sidelining was opposed again by the players' union.
Regardless, it leaves Manly without an established centre heading into the start of the season, while fullback Tom Trbojevic is also out with a hamstring injury.
The Sea Eagles immediately accepted Friday's decision, but are yet to decide if they will pursue salary-cap relief from the NRL.
"We accept this decision as part of the NRL's drive to significantly uplift player behaviour'' CEO Lyall Gorman said on Friday.
"Naturally, we are disappointed to lose Dylan from our playing squad.
"The club has been advised that a future application for salary-cap relief as a result of this stand down will be looked upon favourably."
Bolton's ban will be downgraded from 10 games to five after the Cowboys' acceptance of plans for him to educate the other 15 NRL clubs following his guilty plea to common assault for grabbing a woman's upper thigh last year.
"Given Scott's standing in our club, his status as a life member and his unblemished record, it is with reluctance that we accept the five-match ban and associated sanctions," Cowboys CEO Jeff Reibel said.
The NRL also confirmed Musgrove's contract with the Wests Tigers wouldn't be registered until an indecent assault charge he is denying is through the courts.
Flanagan's re-registration also won't come in the near future, with the NRL confirming it won't assess any return to the game for ex-Cronulla coach after he broke the terms of his 2014 ban and communicated with the club.
However, Dylan Napa escaped a ban for his presence in leaked lewd videos and was fined 10 per cent of his salary or around $50,000.
Cronulla also picked up fines of $1.25 million - $500,000 of which is suspended - for cap breaches and the Flanagan ordeal, as well as a cap sanction of $707,000 over two years.
The Tigers were also fined $375,000 and will operate without $319,500 in their cap for each of the next two years, but chief executive Justin Pascoe has been permitted to return to his job in June after their 2016 breach.
