After the Grand Final between Wigan Warriors and Hull KR, the disciplinary verdict has been handed down with one man set for a mega ban.
It had seemed a fairly uneventful Super League Grand Final in terms of all matters disciplinary with Chris Kendall keeping his cards in his pocket and very few, if any, flashpoints.
That was in stark contrast to the Challenge Cup Final featuring Wigan Warriors that Kendall had officiated earlier in the season when he was forced to flash the yellow card twice in the opening sets with Mike Cooper and Matt Dufty sent to the bin in the opening exchanges.
Thankfully, cards did not affect the outcome of Saturday’s Grand Final with Wigan Warriors defeating Hull KR through their resolute defence and once moment of magic from Bevan French.
The same couldn’t be said for the team’s last meeting when Hull KR saw two sin bins equate to them shipping four tries in their Round 25 defeat.
Now, the Match Review Panel have convened to discuss all disciplinary matters from the game and there looks set to be a major ban.
Hull KR star set for huge ban
Credit: Imago Images
That Hull KR man is Peta Hiku with the centre facing a Grade E charge, which could carry up to a five-match ban.
Hiku will now head to an Operational Rules Tribunal after being charged with making ‘Unnecessary Contac with a player who is or may be injured’.
That player in question was Junior Nsemba with the Wigan Warriors man suffering a scary injury and laying prone before being assessed and taken from the field.
Incredibly, Nsemba would pass his HIA despite the initial suspicion from many that he had been knocked out, something that it seemed Hiku was concerned about as he touched Nsemba to check on the Wigan man.
That contact has now been deemed as ‘Unnecessary contact’ with the RFL very strict on the rules about touching an injured or potentially injured player.
Former Hull KR captain Shaun Kenny-Dowall picked up a four-game ban for doing so in 2023 and the same fate could befall his fellow New Zealander. It’s unclear if a ban would force Hiku to miss the games for New Zealand after being called up for the first time in eight years.
Hull KR can confirm Peta Hiku has received a Grade E charge in last weekend’s Grand Final and will be referred to a tribunal. pic.twitter.com/E5w2FyTEvk
— Hull KR (@hullkrofficial) October 14, 2024
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James Catterall
October 14, 2024 at 6:34 pm
I am not one for the vid ref intervening in games, especially with some of the cards that have been shown this season but my god he should have intervend with that, and why he didn’t when it has been the case all season that a player staying down invokes the vid ref to review. it was shocking and should have been a straight red from the ref on the pitch, he must have seen it. And why when showing the reply did sky cut off just before he did JR? and no showing at half time. THe RL are currupt