Appeal decision reached on Hull KR captain Elliot Minchella after ban

An RFL Operational Rules Tribunal has returned its verdict on Hull KR captain Elliot Minchella’s two-match ban after the club appealed it.

The loose forward was handed a two-match ban after the Robins’ Round 26 win over Leigh Leopards in which the Hull KR skipper was sent to the sin bin.

Minchella was adjudged by referee Chris Kendall to have been too high in his tackle on Leigh full-back Matt Moylan and the Match Review Panel agreed, handing the Hull KR skipper a Grade C charge with carried a two-match ban.

Hull KR immediately confirmed their intent to appeal the decision although they requested for the tribunal to be moved back to this week as they sought their preferred representation.

When asked about the matter during last week’s pre-match press conference, Willie Peters explained:  “It’s with people above me, and they’re taking care of that at the moment. So my focus, and the team’s focus, is Friday.”

Hull KR took care of business on Friday night as they beat Leeds Rhinos but that meant that the second game of Minchella’s ban would be the play-off semi-final, underlining the decision by Hull KR to appeal.

Hull KR learn fate of Elliot Minchella appeal

The Operational Rules Tribunal have now returned their verdict on Minchella’s ban and decided to uphold the ban, meaning he will be unavailable for the Robins’ semi-final.

An RFL statement explained: “The independent Operational Rules Tribunal have upheld a Grade C head contact charge served to Hull KR’s Elliot Minchella arising from their Round 26 Betfred Super League fixture at Leigh, meaning he will be unavailable for their Semi Final next Friday (October 4).

“Minchella had been charged on September 16 with Grade C head contact, which carried a two-match suspension because of his previous record.

“He served the first match of that ban in Hull KR’s Round 27 victory over Leeds Rhinos last Friday, and the independent Operational Rules Tribunal rejected a challenge against the grading – meaning he still has one match to serve.”

Minchella was the only Super League player to have a case heard tonight and all six Super League play-off teams head into the upcoming games with no current disciplinary issues.

Hull FC forward Yusuf Aydin had been handed a one-match ban but the Black and Whites decided against an appeal.