Leigh Leopards man Keanan Brand has been charged by the the RFL disciplinary panel following last week’s friendly clash with Warrington Wolves.
The Leopards were edged out 16-12 by the Wolves at the Halliwell Jones Stadium as they took to the field for the first time this year on Friday. It came at a cost for Adrian Lam’s side too, with Joe Ofahengaue and Umyla Hanley being amongst those to pick up injury issues in the game.
Lam didn’t speak to the press after the contest, so we won’t know more on the full extent of those injuries until later this week. However, the head coach will be relieved to learn that Brand has avoided a ban.
The winger has been sanctioned by the Match Review Panel with a Grade B disputing decision charge. Full details of the dissent have not been disclosed, but the charge has come with three penalty points and a fine attached.
As such, he will be available to feature for the Leopards in the third round of the Challenge Cup this weekend at North Wales Crusaders. And, given the aforementioned injury concerns, that will come as a boost for the Leopards and Lam.
Brand is the only player to have been charged by the match review panel this week with the clash between Hull FC and Wigan Warriors being incident-free as far as disciplinary is concerned, seemingly.
Leigh can be expected to name a changed line up for the clash against last year’s League One champions, but after seeing Dean Muir’s Crusaders beat a young Wigan Warriors outfit in pre-season, Lam will wary of the threat the Welsh side pose.
The Leopards open up the Super League season by hosting Leeds Rhinos, but they then travel to face St Helens and Wigan Warriors in rounds two and three in what is an extremely tricky start.
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