Harry Smith learns fate with Wigan Warriors star facing long Super League ban

Wigan Warriors star Harry Smith could be banned for as many as five matches following his red card offence in his side’s loss to Leeds Rhinos.

Smith was sent off late on by referee Liam Moore after the half-back swung his arm towards the head of James Bentley who lay on the floor after being tackled.

It seemed like a case of the red mist descending for Smith with the result of the game long gone and his frustration boiling over in the 77th minute.

Just a few minutes earlier, referee Liam Moore had pulled both captains together after Smith initiated a melee by pulling an opposition player to the floor. Moore could be heard on the Sky Sports cameras explaining that he didn’t want to show cards if he didn’t have to with possible bans in mind.

Despite that, his hand was forced when Smith landed on Bentley with his swinging arm in what Sam Tomkins labelled as an “ugly” incident.

The Match Review Panel have now met to decide the fate of the Wigan Warriors star.

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Wigan Warriors star facing up to five games banned

Smith’s offence has been determined as a Grade E offence which carries sanctioning guidelines of three to five games, meaning his case has been referred to Tuesday night’s Operational Rules Tribunal.

The Match Review Panel‘s Minutes detail the alleged offence as ‘Use of foreman to head by tackler’, before explaining that he had been charged with ‘Striking’.

If Smith is banned for the minimum number of games within the sanctioning guideline, at just three, then he will miss Magic Weekend against St Helens as well as games against Hull FC and Catalans Dragons.

Should he be handed a ban at the higher end of the scale then he could also miss Wigan Warriors’ home games against Hull KR and Leeds Rhinos.

The Match Review Panel also found teammate Liam Farrell guilty of ‘Other contrary behaviour’, fining him £250 for his actions on his 400th career appearance.

Morgan Knowles and Josh Charnley were handed two and one-game bans whilst a total of seven players were fined.

Super League Round 21 Disciplinary news and bans

– Josh Charnley (Leigh Leopards) – Grade B Contrary Behaviour – 1 Match Penalty Notice (Higher End)
– Morgan Knowles (St Helens) – Grade C Head Contact – 2 Match Penalty Notice (Higher End)
– Nixon Putt (Castleford Tigers) – Grade B Dangerous Throw/Lift – £250 Fine
– Sauaso Sue (Hull KR) – Grade A Disputes Decision – £250 Fine
– Liam Farrell (Wigan Warriors) – Grade B Other Contrary Behaviour – £250 Fine
– Harry Smith (Wigan Warriors) – Grade E Striking – Refer to Tribunal
– Dean Parata (London Broncos) – Grade B Head Contact – £250 Fine
– Darnell McIntosh (Leigh Leopards) – Grade B Dangerous Throw/Lift – £250 Fine
– Robbie Mulhern (Leigh Leopards) – Grade B Other Contrary Behaviour – £250 Fine
– Owen Trout (Leigh Leopards) – Grade B Head Contact – £250 Fine