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A remorseful James Tamou is facing a ban that could end his NRL career following his expletive-laden abuse of referee Ben Cummins.

The Wests Tigers veteran admitted he let his frustrations get the better of him when sin-binned by Cummins late in his team's record-breaking 72-6 loss to the Sydney Roosters on Saturday night.

The 304-gamer's worst fears were realised on Sunday morning when he was handed a grade-three contrary conduct charge for the incident.

It means he will miss two matches even with an early guilty plea, meaning he must fight to downgrade the charge to play again this year for a team on track for a maiden wooden spoon.

Off contract at the end of the season, the former NSW and State of Origin prop is keen to play on but is yet to be offered another contract at age 33.

Tamou admitted on Saturday night his "heart dropped" when he realised the incident had the potential to end his career.

Initially sin-binned for dissent in the 79th minute, Tamou was then sent off when he called Cummins "f****** incompetent" as he left the field.

"I apologise for my actions towards Ben Cummins," a forlorn Tamou said afterwards.

"(The referees) do a terrific job. The frustration got the better of me.

"I'll wear the criticism all week. I've got to be accountable for my actions ... I've let everyone down. I've let myself down. I'm embarrassed.

"I've got four kids at home and that's how they're going to see that their dad acts."

While he is in negotiations to extend his career by at least another year, Tamou said the possibility of retiring in such inauspicious circumstance was difficult to swallow.

"I didn't think of that until someone just mentioned it. My heart dropped," he said.

"It would be a tough way to go out of a game that has given me a lot.

"It'd be great to go around again but I'm also a bit of a pessimist. If the time comes to hang up the boots, I'll be a realist and go out and find a job."

Under NRL rules, suspended players are not allowed onto the field before or after games while serving their ban.

It means if Tamou is suspended and leaves at year's end, the veteran may not be allowed a traditional farewell from the NRL unless an exemption is granted by the league.

Such an exemption has been granted in the past, with Issac Luke being allowed to celebrate South Sydney's premiership in 2014 an example.

Tamou already put himself out more than required on Saturday night, almost tearful while fronting a press conference despite the common practice in which players on report or sent off do not speak to the media.

"Jimmy was the first one to put his hand up and say, 'I want to come and do the press conference' and make himself accountable," coach Brett Kimmorley said.

"That's says more about the stature of the man than 300 games."

© AAP 2022

St George Illawarra overcame a send off, two first-half injuries, a concussion check for their fullback and 80 minutes of madness to beat Gold Coast 46-26 and leave the Titans still battling to avoid the NRL wooden spoon.

On a bizarre Sunday afternoon in Wollongong, Saints prop Francis Molo was sent off for a high shot on Greg Marzhew with 17 minutes remaining as the Titans were mounting a late charge while trailing 30-26.

But somehow the Saints managed to score three unanswered tries with Molo off the field, seemingly playing better once a man short.

"Our season has been a little bit like that," coach Anthony Griffin said.

"We have always had a challenge or an obstacle to get over, and today was one of those days.

"I was really proud of what they did with 17 minutes to go.

"It was going to go one way or another once Frank got sent off. They chose to tough it out and scored three tries to nil."

It came in a 13-try shootout that befitted not only the point-scoring blitz that has been round 23 but a match between two teams with little to play for towards the end of the 2022 regular season.

Saints winger Tautau Moga claimed the first hat-trick of his career, but Talatau Amone was the Dragons' best, scoring a double while also laying on another try.

Ben Hunt also had a role in two tries, laying on a superb cut-out pass for Jack Bird early in the second half, but also handing one back to the Titans though a short dropout.

Bird also also set up two tries, playing across four positions as the Saints' lost several players during the match.

Notably, hooker Andrew McCullough suffered a medial ligament injury as questions continue around his future with a year still to run on his contract.

Moses Mbye also suffered a hamstring injury, while fullback Cody Ramsey spent time off the field for a concussion check.

Given all that, it was an incredible feat that the Dragons still managed to cross for nine tries in the 20-point win.

And after all the madness, the Titans are still no closer to avoiding the wooden spoon.

Above the battling Wests Tigers on for-and-against only, the Titans had every chance to go one win above them in 15th place when the Dragons went down to 12 men.

Several of their tries were entertaining, not least of which Beau Fermor's in the second half when the ball went through seven sets of hands and was kicked twice in the lead-up.

But for all that, it was an all-too-familiar result for the Titans, who have lost 11 of their past 12 matches.

"There's motivation whether we're in that position (of trying to avoid the spoon) or not," said Titans coach Justin Holbrook.

"We want to play and we're disappointed, the way we finished today.

"We got within striking distance and then just made way too many errors when we got the ball."

© AAP 2022

Qantas has apologised after facing a barrage of complaints over delayed flights, cancellations and mishandled baggage, offering customers a $50 flight discount to make amends.

CEO Alan Joyce conceded the national carrier had been beset by recent "operational challenges" as customers queued for hours at airports around the country.

The airline is rolling out vouchers and frequent flyer perks, including lounge invitations and reward seat availability, as additional sweeteners to win back customers.

In a bid to get back to pre-pandemic service, Qantas has hired an additional 1500 staff and adjusted flight schedules to help smooth the travel experience.

In a video and email message sent to millions of the company's Frequent Flyers, Mr Joyce said the return to skies hadn't all gone smoothly.

"Over the past few months, too many of you have had flights delayed, flights cancelled and bags misplaced. There are good reasons why, but when it comes to what you expect from Qantas, it's not good enough.

"On behalf of the national carrier, I want to apologise and assure you that we're working hard to get back to our best."

Mr Joyce said the airline had been working to see sustained customer improvement.

"While factors out of our control like weather can have an impact on our schedule, we expect things to keep improving each week."

© AAP 2022