Appeal decision made on Super League star after suspension

Round 18 was a pivotal weekend in the Betfred Super League with Leeds Rhinos registering a crucial win over Salford Red Devils, Wigan Warriors stunned by Wakefield Trinity and Hull FC claiming a huge triumph in the Hull derby against Hull KR.

It was also a weekend that saw Warrington Wolves and St Helens serve up a classic affair adorned by some masterful tries such as Matty Ashton’s length of the field effort, Matt Dufty finishing off a delightful team more, the pair of tries Jack Welsby created to turn the game and despite the controversy around it the try James Bell scored was also superb.

That was only the zenith of the controversy in that game with some fiery moments involving Konrad Hurrell and Gil Dudson and there were some spicy affairs across the league such as when a scrum burst into a fight between Leeds and Salford involving Mikolaj Oledzki and Chris Atkin.

That said,  despite a fiery weekend in Super League it hasn’t been a busy week for the match review panel with only five players charged and four of them fined.

These were Jai Whitbread, Brad O’Neill, Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook and Paul Seguier.

Unsurprisingly, the ban came from the clash between Salford Red Devils and the Leeds Rhinos but not for the scuffle.

Instead Oliver Partington has been banned for dangerous contact posing a threat to the head, neck and spine of his opponent.

The Match Review Panel explained:

“Dangerous Contact – A defending player makes contact with an opponent after the ball has been released by an opponent in a vulnerable position which causes flexion to the head, neck or spinal column on an attacking player, which poses an unacceptable risk of injury to that player.”

Salford had the right to appeal the suspension whilst other Super League clubs could appeal the fines which we have seen some clubs do in 2023 such as St Helens.

However, Serious About Rugby League can confirm that no one has appealed.

Thus there will be no operational rules tribunal tonight and Partington will miss the game against Leigh Leopards this weekend.