“I am just hoping Chris is alright. We’ve exchanged text messages,” Barnett said.

“I’m disappointed and I’ll go away and do my time.

“The lesson learnt is that I can’t be careless in terms of player safety.”

Barnett was flanked by Knights football manager Danny Buderus as he arrived at League Central on Tuesday for the two-hour hearing.

He said he only saw Smith late and put out a “bumper” to protect himself.

The back-rower said he only noticed Smith in his peripheral vision as he was focused on stopping the Panthers spreading the ball to the flank to score a try.

“I have a duty of care to opposition players and I understand that,” Barnett said during the hearing.

“It was careless, but I never intended to lift my arm that high.”

Barnett’s team claimed the forward’s first point of contact was with Smith’s chest.

They also produced a character reference from John Quayle, which played a part in the panel’s decision.

The fact the Panthers back-rower only sustained a concussion and no break to his jaw, they said, led them to believe the Knights player should receive a four-game ban at most.

Gyles rubbished Barnett’s claims and had argued for a stronger sentence but that fell on deaf ears.

“This idea that you weren’t able to see him just before contact is simply not true,” said Gyles, who described Barnett’s elbow as a “blunt instrument”.

“You could have got past him easily with just using your hands, couldn’t you?

“You’re a very co-ordinated, fit and experienced rugby league defender. Can I suggest to you it’s very likely to have been an intentional act?”

Smith has not been named in Penrith’s round four game against South Sydney, while Barnett will not be able to play for the Knights until round 10 when they face Canterbury.