Canberra crowd favourite Elliott Whitehead has likely played his last game in the NRL after deciding not to contest a three-game ban for a hip-drop tackle on Sydney Roosters hooker Brandon Smith.

The 34-year-old is bound for Catalans Dragons in the Super League at season’s end and the Raiders are all but guaranteed to miss finals, needing to beat St George Illawarra and hope Newcastle draw with the Dolphins in the final round of the season.

Whitehead’s tackle left Smith with damage to his ACL and MCL, ending the No.9’s season and infuriating Tri-colours coach Trent Robinson.

The Raiders had been considering challenging the grade-three dangerous contact charge, given the only downside for fighting the charge in the judiciary and losing would have been legal costs.

But the club on Tuesday confirmed their captain had taken the early guilty plea.

Whitehead was also hit with two further charges from Sunday’s clash, but was able to escape with $3,600 in fines for tripping James Tedesco and kicking out at Angus Crichton late in Canberra’s 14-12 win.

He finishes his NRL career having scored 44 tries in 205 games over nine seasons, all with the Raiders.

The tough-as-nails second-rower has been one of the club’s most consistent performers in his time in the nation’s capital and was at the heart of the action in his final game, bagging a try and an assist as well as spending two stints in the sin bin.

He received a hero’s send-off in his final home game, breaking down in tears after Canberra’s stunning 22-18 win over Penrith in round 25.

“Elliott turned up here as a guy who wanted to challenge himself in terms of playing in the NRL,” said coach Ricky Stuart after the match. 

“He’s won that challenge.

“He’ll be here at many reunions with our old boys and he’ll be the one at the bar with 10 or 15 blokes around him because he’s just adored by everyone.”

By Jacob Shteyman in Canberra