Kneeing victim Shane Marteene has called on the NRL judiciary to "throw the book" at Sydney Roosters prop Adrian Morley at Wednesday night's hearing.

Morley pleaded guilty on Tuesday to an ungraded striking charge for kneeing Corey Hughes in the abdomen in Saturday's 25-0 loss to the Bulldogs and is facing a suspension of up to 18 matches.

The Great Britain prop, who will join Super League club Warrington next season, is likely to receive a lengthy ban that will end his NRL career and participation in the end-of-season Tri-Nations tournament.

The last player to be suspended for kneeing was Cronulla back rower Greg Bird, who copped 10 weeks for kneeing South Sydney utility Marteene in 2004.

Marteene said the judiciary needed to make an example of Morley.

"It's a bit of a shame he'll be remembered in this way, not the way he would have liked," Marteene told AAP.

"A knee is a knee, it didn't look good.

"You've got to worry about the kids watching the game, it's not really sending the right message.

"He'll cop a good suspension and have plenty of time to think about it.

"You've got to throw the book at him and make an example of him.

"He's looking down the barrel of 18 weeks, he'll get a rest for a while to think about it."

Former Newcastle forward and player's union boss Tony Butterfield, who was sent off and suspended for five matches for kneeing Balmain fullback Tim Brasher in 1994, said the fact Hughes was uninjured should be taken into account.

"If it didn't hurt the bloke and it was just an undisciplined act, that deserves a kick in the backside and a little holiday," Butterfield said.

"If the bloke is concussed on the ground with his head split open due to a knee, that's a problem.

"From what I understand, and I apologise to Corey Hughes if I'm wrong, but I don't think he was hurt."

Butterfield, who claimed he used his knee to "push" Brasher away from the play-the-ball in his case, said suggestions of an 18-week suspension for Morley were over the top.

"Absolutely, that sort of talk and the public perception can impact on the charges," he said.

"You've just got to look at it as an ill-disciplined act, a brain explosion and you've just got to be thankful nobody was really hurt.

"I don't know why he would do that ... I'll be buggered if I know."

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