“Disgusted” fans create fundraiser to pay £750 fine for Liam Watts

The fall-out from the week’s on and off-field disciplinary continues with many Castleford Tigers fans feeling hard done by with the four-game ban of Liam Watts.

Watts failed to fully wrap his arm when attempting to tackle Wigan Warriors’ Tyler Dupree and as such he saw red for ‘contact with the head’, something that he earned a Grade E charge for.

At the tribunal last night it was adjudged that the original grading was correct and it was therefore upheld meaning Watts landed a four-game ban which came at the lower end of the sentencing guidelines.

He also was hit with a £750 fine but now a group of fans are trying to alleviate that by setting up a JustGiving Page to fundraise and pay the forward’s fine.

At the time of writing the fundraiser has reached £465 which is over 60% of the full fine that Watts will have to pay the RFL.

It’s unclear if Watts will take the organisers up on their offer or if they are even allowed to pay the fine for Watts.

“Watts is targeted” – Fundraiser for Liam Watts release statement

The fundraiser on Just Giving has an attached statement with it in which the organiser makes it clear of their intention to help Liam Watts out for the unjust fine.

It reads: “Watts is targeted.

“We all know after this weekends events, how insane the decision has been for our player liam Watts. It has shook the rugby league world with all club (fans/players and commentators) standing in solidarity.

“This is just something we can do for our player And play our part.

“If we dont make the mark its fine- every little helps towards the fine. Please Give what you can.

“We the fans are the heartbeat of our Club,

“We the fans will support our Club and its players In times of need.

“We the fans do not agree with the RFL and it‘s committee.

“We the fans Love Castleford Tigers- It’s in our Blood.”

Liam Watts had in fact plead guilty at the tribunal last night and has seemingly vowed to release a statement of his own with an ominous post on social media stating “incoming soon”, in response to queries of how he would be feeling.

One of the major issues that fans have had with the ban is the fact that Hull FC’s Franklin Pele saw his Grade E charge land just a three-match ban which is below the sentencing guidelines in spite of his swinging arm being a deliberate attack.

By contract Liam Watts was handed a four-game ban for what was effectively incorrect tackle technique, which does somewhat explain the huge uproar among fans.

Despite that it has been made clear by the RFL to players and coaches that contact with the head is not permissible this season.