The Sydney Roosters will be forced to start the NRL season without more than half of last year's first-choice team, after Spencer Leniu was hit with a a two-game ban for a high tackle

Leniu has been handed a grade-two careless high tackle charge from a heavy trial game loss to Newcastle , ruling him out of the Roosters' season-opening clashes with Brisbane and Penrith if he takes an early guilty plea.

If the prop elects to fight the charge at a pre-season judiciary hearing, he would risk spending a third week on the sidelines if the challenge was unsuccessful.

From last year's first-choice side, the Roosters have lost a number of players to rugby union, the English Super League or other NRL clubs.

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