Wigan prop Jeff Lima has been ruled out of the World Club Challenge against St George Illawarra after copping a two-match suspension in his first game for his new club.

In a controversial start to his Super League career, the 28-year-old Kiwi international found himself in trouble with the Rugby Football League's disciplinary bosses after last Saturday's 16-16 draw with St Helens in Cardiff.

Lima was found guilty of two charges of making dangerous contact with opponents with so-called "chicken-wing" tackles.

In one incident, pressure was placed on the arms of the ball-carrier behind his back and was brought to the attention of referee Richard Silverwood by St Helens forward Jon Wilkin.

Lima was also charged with a similar offence on Sia Soliola earlier in the game.

Lima will miss Wigan's trip to Bradford on Sunday and the showdown with Australia's NRL champions St George Illawarra at the DW Stadium in Wigan a week later.

The former Melbourne Storm forward, who pleaded guilty, was also fined STG300 ($A485) and issued with a formal warning a repeat of the offence would result in a lengthy ban.

The loss of Lima is a major blow for Wigan as they prepare for their first World Club Challenge since 1994 without three key players.

Half-back Brett Finch, who also joined Wigan from Melbourne in the winter, is recovering from neck surgery while former Wests Tigers winger Pat Richards is still recuperating from a ruptured achilles tendon sustained in October's grand final triumph.

Meanwhile, former Wigan hooker Wayne Godwin was handed a two-match ban as a result of his dismissal on his debut for Salford.

Godwin denied running in and punching Crusaders captain Clinton Schifcofske at the end of his side's 42-12 defeat at the Millennium Stadium but was found guilty when he appeared in front of the RFL disciplinary committee.

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