At an Operational Rules Tribunal held by the RFL, Halifax Panthers’ centre Zack McComb has been handed a huge eight-game ban that will rule him out for the majority of the season.
It’s an incredibly lengthy ban for the Grade F charge of verbal abuse that was incurred by the 28-year-old in the club’s game against Sheffield Eagles earlier in the month.
That was a game that Halifax Panthers lost 28-0 under the lights at the Olympic Legacy Park with McComb sent off just before the hour mark after what the Panthers’ social media team initially described as “striking”.
Posts on X from the club described an incident between the 28-year-old and Sheffield’s veteran forward Jesse Sene-Lefao, claiming that the pair “continued to have words” after a brawl on the floor that saw the centre throw a punch.
When the charge was brought by the Match Review Panel, it was put to McComb as a Grade F charge for ‘Unacceptable language’, something that he has now been found guilty of and handed an eight-game ban.
News of the guilty verdict came via Halifax Panthers and the RFL but the Panthers released a statement of their own where they explained the next steps they will take as a club. Earlier at the tribunal, Wigan Warriors’ Adam Keighran won his appeal against a Grade B charge.
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Halifax Panthers release statement after eight-match ban handed out
Credit: Imago Images
That statement from Halifax Panthers was published on their club website and via their social media channels.
It read: “Zack McComb was found guilty of Grade F verbal abuse in a recent Betfred Championship fixture during tonight’s RFL tribunal hearing. He has been suspended for eight matches, and fined £500.
“As a club, we don’t condone any abuse based on race, colour, religion, gender, sexual orientation, disability, national or ethnic origin or any other form of Unacceptable Language or Behaviour
“We’ll be launching our own internal disciplinary investigation as per our club policies and procedures. Neither the club nor the player will be making any further statement until this investigation is concluded.”
With just 11 games left of the Championship season, it means that Halifax Panthers will be without McComb for the majority of them and only become available for games against Toulouse Olympique, Bradford Bulls and Whitehaven.
Currently, Fax sit 11th in the Championship and are level on points with both Whitehaven and their Cumbrian counterparts Barrow on ten points with the latter occupying the relegation spots.
55′ RED CARD Looks like it’s spilled over from the previous encounter at The Shay when Sene-Lefao caused all kinds of problems. Zack McComb is sent off for striking by looks of it (16-0)
— Halifax Panthers 🐾 (@HalifaxPanthers) July 5, 2024
