Disciplinary: Seven players set for bans with stars set to miss playoffs

Over the weekend, Wigan Warriors secured the League Leaders’ Shield, Warrington Wolves forced their way into the play offs whilst Hull KR stole fourth spot from Leigh Leopards meaning they will host Leigh at Craven Park this week.

It was a big night full of huge moments many of which the Match Review Panel will have reviewed on Monday.

Wigan will have been nervous over a number of their stars after potential high tackles from a number of their star men.

The same could be said of Warrington Wolves whilst Max Jowitt could have faced a similar offence.

Leigh may have had a few worries with Edwin Ipape after a tackle similar to the infamous John Asiata tackles whilst Tom Amone was placed on report for a crusher tackle.

There could have been bans for yellow card offences from Sam Tomkins, Amir Bourouh, Sam Lisone and Liam Watts.

Now the disciplinary verdicts have been confirmed.

Following the latest round of Betfred Super League, Women’s Super League, Championship and League One, the Match Review Panel have issued the following sanctions:

Luke Gale (Wakefield Trinity) – Grade A Dangerous Contact – £250 Fine
Hugo Salabio (Wakefield Trinity) – Grade A Dangerous Contact – £250 Fine
Luke Gale (Wakefield Trinity) – Grade B High Tackle – 1 Match Penalty Notice
Tom Amone (Leigh Leopards) – Grade B Dangerous Contact – £250 Fine
Tom Amone (Leigh Leopards) – Grade B Dangerous Contact – 1 Match Penalty Notice
Kaide Ellis (Wigan Warriors) – Grade B High Tackle – 1 Match Penalty Notice
Harvie Hill (Wigan Warriors) – Grade C Strikes – 1 Match Penalty Notice
Bevan French (Wigan Warriors) – Grade B Contact with Match Official – 1 Match Penalty Notice
Adam Milner (Huddersfield Giants) – Grade B Dangerous Contact – 1 Match Penalty Notice
Michael McIlorum (Catalans Dragons) – Grade A Dangerous Contact – £250 Fine
Jack Ormondroyd (Salford Red Devils) – Grade B Other Contrary Behaviour – £250 Fine
Sam Lisone (Leeds Rhinos) – Grade A Contact with Match Official – NFA
Chris Satae (Hull FC) – Grade A Other Contrary Behaviour – NFA
George Delaney (St Helens) – Grade C High Tackle – 1 Match Penalty Notice

The only game that had no part to play in any of these battles was between Leeds Rhinos and Castleford Tigers, with both teams simply playing for pride, and it was the Rhinos who responded best after their two humiliating losses of late.

Rohan Smith’s Rhinos have lost their last two games by a combined score of 111-0 but they turned up at Headingley tonight with a massive 46-0 win over the Tigers

As for the battle at the top of the table it was the Battle of the Borough that headlined the matches with Leigh hosting Wigan in an incredibly hard fought match.

A win for the Warriors and they’d lift the League Leaders Shield, such was their dominant points difference, and Matt Peet’s side managed that by a score of 10-6.

That wasn’t a score without controversy though as Oliver Gildart saw a try overturned in the second half.

That Wigan win meant that Catalans, who faced a Salford side chasing playoffs, and St Helens, hosting Hull FC, were battling it out for second place and a home semi-final plus a crucial bye round.

Saints went about their business and put Tony Smith’s FC side away by a score of 30-12, whilst Salford put up a major fight against the Dragons in their hopes of making the playoffs but ultimately they fell short 19-9.

Salford’s loss meant that Warrington made the playoffs and they sealed it in good fashion with a 20-8 win over Huddersfield Giants, Chris McQueen scoring a try on his final game before hanging up the boots for the losing Giants.

With the League Leaders Shield settled, Warrington into the six ahead of Salford, it meant the key score that mattered was Hull KR on their trip to Wakefield Trinity.

Trinity got relegated last week but they had the task of helping out Leigh gain a home playoff game by keeping Rovers quiet but they couldn’t manage that.

Brad Schneider and Mikey Lewis shone in a game where Rovers ran riot, putting up 56 points in a monstrous 56-12 win.

That was a win by such a large margin that it saw Rovers leapfrog Leigh into fourth place, meaning that Rovers will host the Leopards in the playoffs – a huge advantage.

That’s now set up a playoff picture that sees St Helens host Warrington Wolves and Hull KR host Leigh Leopards next week, before Wigan and Catalans will face the winners for a date at Old Trafford.