Every red card of the 2024 Super League season and their respective bans

The 2024 Super League campaign got off to a fiery start with a red card for Hull FC man Franklin Pele in the opening game and there have been plenty more since. Following Adam Keighran’s red card across the weekend, all eyes were on the Match Review Panel to see if the Australian was banned for Wembley so we’ve looked at every red card and the respective bans handed out.

As referenced, Franklin Pele saw red on debut for Hull FC as he took a swinging shot at Hull KR captain Elliot Minchella. Perhaps that moment of madness was a sign of things to come for Hull FC in 2024 with the Black and Whites having been handed the most red cards and third most yellow cards of any Super League side this season.

The red card that everyone is talking about now though came for Wigan Warriors with Adam Keighran landing a high shot on Arron Lindop in yesterday’s clash against Warrington. The Australian has since been handed a Grade D charge and a three-game ban and £250 fine.

Despite that, some players have escaped bans after being sent off so we’ve looked at all 12 red cards from the 2024 Super League season to assess the likelihood of his ban. You can check all Super League bans from the 2024 season here.

Every Red Card in the 2024 Super League season

Franklin Pele (Hull FC – Round One) – 3 Matches

Debutant Pele was shown the first red card of the Super League season but it wasn’t the only red card in the opening game. His swinging arm on Hull KR skipper Elliot Minchella landed him a three-match ban.

Ligi Sao (Hull FC – Round One) – 1 Match

Ligi Sao was the second Hull FC player sent off in game one and he was initially handed a three-game ban but on appeal had it reduced to just one match for his act of retaliation that saw him hit out at Matt Parcell.

Liam Watts (Castleford Tigers – Round One) – 4 Matches

This was a controversial one with plenty claiming that Watts’ reputation preceded him as he copped a four-match ban despite being the second man in the tackle. The MRP judged there wasn’t enough mitigation and handed him a four-match ban for making contact with the head.

Micky McIlorum (Catalans Dragons – Round One) – 4 Matches

Just like Watts, McIlorum was handed a four-match ban for making contact with the head. His punishment was heightened due to a number of previous disciplinary issues though.

Nu Brown (Hull FC – Round Two) – No Ban

Brown’s red card was the most controversial of the season and even saw the RFL come out and address the matter, this incident prompted an alteration in the rules and Brown was handed no ban for the accidental clash of heads.

Mark Percival (St Helens – Round Four) – Two Matches

Percival saw red in Round Four for his late hit on the passer that saw him make head contact with Jack Ormondroyd. It was the first red card of the season for St Helens.

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Liam Byrne (Wigan Warriors – Round Six ) – Four Matches

Byrne was shown red in the Good Friday derby for his high tackle that as he made head contact with Mark Percival the ball carrier. Handed a Grade E charge, Byrne was suspended for four matches.

King Vuniyayawa (Salford Red Devils – Round Eight )- No Ban

The Salford man was the second player to be sent off and receive no further punishment after he was admonished for his role in a tip tackle. The Match Review Panel argued that he never lifted the leg above the hop and wasn’t “solely responsible for the mechanics of the tackle and cannot be solely attributed to placing opponent in a dangerous position”.

Elliot Wallis (Huddersfield Giants – Round Ten) – No Ban

Just like Vuniyaywa and Nu Brown, Elliot Wallis received no further punishment for his red card. The winger had been sent off for violent contact after placing his head towards Tim Lafai but it was far from a headbutt and as such saw no further punishment.

Tommy Makinson (St Helens – Round Eleven) – One Match

Makingson received a controversial red card just 15 minutes into St Helens’ huge 60-4 win over Castleford Tigers but he was handed a one-match ban for his late hit that saw him make contact with Tex Hoy’s head.

Liam Horne (Castleford Tigers – Round Eleven) – One Match

Horne’s sending off was the turning point in the game as St Helens scored 46 points in the half-hour that Cas were down to 12 men. The PNG star was shown red for his tip tackle and served a one-match ban.

Adam Keighran (Wigan Warriors – Round 13) – Three Matches

Keighran is the latest man to be sent off and he finds out his fate tomorrow. Just three of the previous eleven players to be shown red have escaped without a ban and those charged with a high shot and contact to the head, just as Keighran will be, have each been handed four-match bans. He has now been handed a three-game ban with his good record potentially being all that saved him from four games. He is now set to miss the Challenge Cup Final.