The RFL’s Match Review Panel has announced the charges for Round One of the Betfred Super League season. There was a lot of buzz about whether or not Wigan Warriors players will be banned ahead of the World Club Challenge.
Hull FC’s Franklin Pele is expected to receive a lengthy ban as he faces the tribunal for his red card against Hull KR. His swinging arm caused his dismissal. Michael McIlorum of Catalans Dragons is also at risk of a six-match ban for his red card against Warrington Wolves.
Liam Watts of Castleford Tigers will also face a tribunal and may receive a long-term ban. The RFL has stated that recommended punishments are included for offences graded A-D. Players and their clubs can challenge these punishments at an Operational Rules Tribunal on Tuesday evening.
If a player is charged with Grade E or F, they are required to appear at an ORT on Tuesday evening. So, the cases of the three players charged with Grade E offences will be heard alongside the appealing Ryan Brierley tonight. The RFL has strong cases against all three players charged with Grade E offences, which means that they are likely to receive some sort of ban.
This will increase the total number of players banned after the first round to 12. However, some will argue that it could have been 13. The burning question among Wigan Warriors fans was whether or not star man Harry Smith would pick up a ban for his tip tackle.
He has avoided a ban however with the RFL explaining: “The Wigan Warriors scrum half Harry Smith will be available to play in that game after the dangerous throw/lift charge for which he was sin-binned at Castleford on Saturday was graded as B. This was because the unnatural actions of the tackled player significantly contributed to the outcome of the tackle.”
This was unlike Luke Yates who was banned before the season for three games for a similar tackle.
Former Warrington Wolves star calls out RFL after Wigan Warriors star cleared to play
Many had expected Harry Smith to be hit with a ban after the Super League Disciplinary matters were dealt with.
Now former Castleford Tigers and Warrington Wolves star Peter Mata’utia who is the brother of active St Helens star Sione Mata’utia has spoken up.
The centre has picked up on the complaints of Luke Yates about two Wigan Warriors players avoiding bans whilst he picked up a three game ban for a tackle that seemed to end with the player’s back hitting the floor.
Sharing what Yates said to Facebook, Mata’utia added himself:
“All they want is an explanation and consistency after round 1. So from now on everyone who dumps a player on their heads should get a fine and anyone who dumps someone on their back needs to get 3 weeks.”
