Ian Watson vindicated as disciplinary reveals red card incident started by St Helens

Huddersfield Giants are in a battle with Leeds Rhinos, Warrington Wolves, Hull FC, Hull KR and Salford Red Devils for a spot in the play-offs.

But their hopes of making the play-offs were hurt by a defeat to Super League and World Champions St Helens yesterday in a hugely controversial game.

The match saw Joe Greenwood red carded and Matty English sin binned with Huddersfield briefly down to 11 men at one stage.

However, despite this Huddersfield had no men suspended from the game. In fact, the only player banned was Matty Lees for a high tackle at the start of the Joe Greenwood incident.

This vindicated Ian Watson who said on BBC Radio Leeds that he felt the incident was caused by Saints:

“The Joe Greenwood one, we played St Helens and had a man sent off at Magic weekend when we had a shoulder from Walmsley directly in the head of Greenwood in that game.

“We’ve had one today from, I don’t know if it’s the young kid, who’s gone straight through and shoulders directly in the face of Joe Greenwood. Joe Greenwood’s then pushed out and I think he has caught him with the elbow from the video thing, he’s kind of pushed out, but it’s not a malicious one.

“So he’s been sent off on the back of that after when we should have really had a penalty and then you look in that situation I’ve just seen it back on video there, for me I’d like the match review to have a little look at what Morgan Knowles is doing with his head after going down to the floor as well.

“For me you’ve got Joe Greenwood who has been directly hit in the face, we had Joe Greenwood directly hit in the face at Magic never got any penalties got concussed and got took off against that line magic. This game here he’s been sent off because he’s been lashed out and then you talk about players feeling protected, well that’s not protecting players when they’re getting whacked straight in the face and they’re the ones who are getting kind of concussed on the back of it.”

Following the Betfred Challenge Cup Final and latest Betfred Super League fixture, the Match Review Panel have issued the following sanctions:

Elliott Minchella (Hull KR) – Grade B Other Contrary Behaviour – 1 Match Penalty Notice
Chris Hill (Huddersfield Giants) – Grade A High Tackle – Not Applicable
Matty Lees (St Helens) – Grade C High Tackle – 2 Match Penalty Notice
Joe Greenwood (Huddersfield Giants) – Grade B Striking – £250 Fine
Olly Russell (Huddersfield Giants) – Grade B Dangerous Contact – £250 Fine
The following player was handed a caution:

Matty English (Huddersfield Giants) – Dangerous Contact