Cowboys winger Braidon Burns will head to the NRL judiciary on Tuesday night to contest the ban handed to him after the season's kickoff in Vegas.

Burns was offered a two-match suspension, with an early plea, for his high shot on Newcastle's Kalyn Ponga late in the match the weekend before last.

The sin bin amplified North Queensland's challenge to stage a comeback late in the piece, trailing by four points with less than 10 minutes on the clock after working back into the contest.

Newcastle had put on a pair of tries in the opening minutes of each half, and ran in for a fifth try shortly after Burns was sent from the field.

Burns risks three weeks on the sidelines for the 'careless' grade two high tackle, having initially looked to time the contact well shooting in from the wing.

The Cowboys confirmed Burns' intent to challenge the grading.

Ponga played out the match.

The nine-day wait comes as round 1 concluded with remaining matches back in Australia at the weekend.

Speaking post-match in Vegas, Cowboys coach Todd Payten said he couldn't disagree with the referee's sin bin call.

Payton did however give ponder consistency after Tom Mikaele suffered a medial tear as a result of a 'cannonball' tackle - when the ball carrier's legs are dangerously targeted when already being held up by defenders - from Tyson Frizell.

"We put ourselves under too much pressure with the way we started the second half, and felt that things are starting to turn just as Burns he got sinned in with seven minutes to go," Payton said.

"Can't disagree with the result (Burns' sin binning), (though the high hit was) not intentional...Really disappointed with how the Tom Mikaele incident was handled. Considering, you know, Kayln gets up and plays on and Tom's out for the next six weeks."

The Cowboys have winnable games with the Tigers and Titans before a tougher task hosting the Storm in the next three weeks.