NSW five-eighth Trent Barrett's State of Origin career could be over after he was charged with a grade one reckless tackle on Queensland centre Greg Inglis in Wednesday night's 24-14 loss at ANZ Stadium.

Barrett, 31, faces two or three matches on the sidelines for leaving Inglis with a suspected broken jaw in an ugly incident in the 22nd minute of Queensland's series-clinching victory.

Queensland coach Mal Meninga claimed Barrett should "quite possibly" have been sent off.

"We lost a man didn't we?" Meninga said when asked if Barrett should have given his marching orders.

"All of a sudden we lost a man and we're down to 16 with 60-odd minutes to go and they keep their full complement for an illegal action.

"It got him flush. It's not for me to be giving any penalties, but it was flush, you know.

"It was quite obvious. He's such a character, Greg. He wanted to come back on the footy field and here is with a fractured jaw.

"The doctor tells us that."

Barrett had until midday on Thursday to enter a plea.

If he pleaded guilty, he would be outed for two games, meaning he would miss Cronulla's round-16 clash with the Sydney Roosters on Saturday and the following game against North Queensland.

If he unsuccessfully fought the charge at the judiciary on Thursday night, Barrett would also miss the Sharks' round-19 tussle with Manly.

Either way, Barrett must beat the charge to play again before NSW name a side for the July 15 dead rubber in Brisbane.

Barrett said he was undecided how he would plead.

"I haven't seen it so I'll go back to Sticky (Cronulla coach Ricky Stuart) tomorrow but hopefully everything will be okay," he said.

"I certainly didn't mean it. Those things happen occasionally and, as I said, I haven't seen it so I don't want to comment too much on it, but certainly it wasn't intentional.

"I've been charged with a grade one, but I have a good record. Two years in England and I think the two years prior to leaving, I didn't have anything. So it might work in my favour."

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