Brian Carney claims Super League side will suffer massive suspension blow

As Leeds Rhinos lost to Hull KR in Round Two of the Betfred Super League season there was plenty of controversial moments which peaked with James Donaldson’s yellow card.

He was the latest player sin binned for a head high tackle in a controversial start to Super League but many felt that the incident warranted a red card rather than just yellow card.

Even Leeds Rhinos legend Jamie Jones-Buchanan had his on the matter: “That’s a good question and I think whenever you invite the referee to put his hand in his pocket it’s a bit of a lottery at the minute

“I think there is some force in there it’s definitely contact to the head and I’m not so sure that Gildart is even falling into it it is a little bit reckless for me from James Donaldson and I think he’s looking to just get a yellow card.

“It could be seen as forceful. Yeah, he could be seen as using force. I don’t think there’s any mitigation. I think he’s the second man coming into contact. Almost has to anticipate the guild arts falling. He could easily just clamped onto him here, taken him to ground. He chooses to swing his arm. Look, James Donaldson’s not a dirty player. This is an aggressive contact, a forceful contact with the head of the opposing player who’s about to come to the ground.”

This came as Brian Carney said that James Donaldson will pick up a two match suspension with Carney saying: “There’s direct contact with the head there’s not enough mitigation so that’s a two match suspension.”

This will likely be the same for Sam Lisone creating a massive problem for the Rhinos ahead of their clash against Catalans Dragons.

Super League star should have been sent off says Wilkin

This came as Jon Wilkin said that Donaldson should have been red carded: “It’s forceful there’s direct contact with the head there’s not enough mitigation that’s a too much suspension that has to have been a red card even if he’s falling to the ground.

“What I heard when I went to the referees meeting preseason is that there has to be a responsibility from that defending player to protect the welfare of the ball carrier and I believe that was reckless by James Donaldson it wasn’t malicious it wasn’t violent but it was reckless again I engaged in the safety of another player by being reckless into contact. Now what are we trying to stop?

“Head contact. It was a reckless approach to a tackle, resulting in a forceful head contact. So for me, Yellow Card’s lucky.”