Bradford Bulls forward Will Gardiner suffers “bleed on the brain” as boss hails St Helens’ conduct following horror injury

Bradford Bulls boss Kurt Haggerty believes it would have been “ridiculous” if St Helens half-back Jackson Hastings were to receive a ban for making contact with Will Gardiner on Friday night.

Gardiner needed to be stretchered off the field in the Bulls’ defeat on Friday, and was immediately taken to hospital for assessment.

Boss Haggerty was originally going to follow his player to the hospital, however, thankfully, Gardiner was “alert” before he went in the ambulance.

“It was pretty frightening,” he recalled. “I think the feedback that I got, he had a bit of a bleed from the ear too, so there were a lot of concerning moments.

“Just after the game, I got in to see Will in the medical room before he went to the hospital. He had a smile on his face. He was alert. So yeah, he’s OK.

“He’s back home with his partner, so he’s in a better place. I think he has to go back for another CT scan.”

“I’ve just been saying to somebody, they’ve found a slight bleed on the brain, but it could have been something from birth.

“It’s something maybe not too concerning, something that maybe [already] happened to him.

“I don’t know the detail of it, but it’s not as severe as it was what it sounds.”

Bradford Bulls boss backs Jackson Hastings amid disciplinary worry

Since the incident, replays have emerged where Hastings seemingly touched Gardiner on the floor.

This year have seen a number of players banned for making unnecessary contact with players who are or may be injured. Lachie Miller and Semi Valemei were suspended for three matches for their respective incidents, earlier in the season, despite their lack of intention to cause harm.

Thankfully, common sense has prevailed and Hastings has escaped a charge. Speaking ahead of the disciplinary verdict, Haggerty shared his thoughts on why a charge for the Saints man would have been ludicrous

He said: “It’d be ridiculous. I spoke to Paul Rowley after the game, and Paul messaged me on behalf of Jackson, particularly after the game, to see if Will was OK.

There’s been a big panic from St Helens as well about the situation. So, Saints have been first class, and Jackson Hastings has been first class.”