Disciplinary minutes revealed: why Saints quartet escaped bans for the Grand Final

Morgan Knowles, Tommy Makinson, Matty Lees and Sione Mata’utia will all be free to play at this weekend’s Grand Final.

That’s despite Knowles’ Grade A charge given for a late hit on the passer in the 66th minute.

The Disciplinary Match Panel revealed that Knowles had made “Dangerous Contact”.

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

Sione Mata’utia was also cited for a high tackle in the 30th minute, which left him being given a yellow card by referee Chris Kendall.

However, the Panel revealed that: “Player is in a set tackle position. Opponent slips immediately before the player. Player does not swing his arm into contact and opponent drops into his arm.”

Tommy Makinson was also cited with a tackle off the ball in the ninth minute, but the Panel stated: “Player takes opponent without ball however is not high and opponent sees contact coming and is prepared for impact.”

Matty Lees was the fourth St Helens player cited in this list with a high tackle in the fourth minute: