Prop Andrew Fifita will miss Cronulla’s next two NRL matches after taking the early guilty plea on a grade two shoulder charge on Wednesday.

Fifita, who on Tuesday confirmed he would join Canterbury at the end of the NRL season on a four-year deal, will miss matches against Canterbury and St George Illawarra.

The charge emanated from a 69th-minute hit on Gold Coast winger David Mead in the Sharks opening-round loss.

“After reviewing footage of the incident from all angles, the Sharks have decided against contesting the match review committee charge levelled against Andrew Fifita from the game last Monday night,” the Sharks said in a statement.

The Sharks also accepted a grade one dangerous contact charge against Siosaia Vave, who will miss one match.

The result is a further blow for the Sharks who will be without captain Paul Gallen for around six weeks with an ankle injury.

Fifita joined Sonny Bill Williams as a big name suspension from the NRL for the opening part of the season.

Williams took the early guilty plea on a grade two shoulder charge after a hit on South Sydney prop George Burgess in the Sydney Roosters round one loss to the Rabbitohs.

Williams’ hit was very similar to Fifita’s but the dual international will sit out three games due to loading from a previous charge last year.