Jon Wilkin slams Match Review Panel over Paul Vaughan’s “petty nonsense” ban

During round 26 of Super League we saw some brilliant action as the two sides at the top of Super League hammered rivals with Wigan Warriors putting up 48 against Castleford Tigers, whilst a sorry Leeds Rhinos fell 61-0 to Catalans Dragons but the most contentious incident came during third place St Helens victory over Warrington Wolves.

The Red Vee won the game 18-6 with a last minute Moses Mbye try extending the score and making what had been a very tight game look slightly wider than was perhaps fair on Warrington.

Warrington stuck in for long periods and when St Helens bound Daryl Clark reached over in the second half it appeared a comeback might be on, but it wasn’t to be.

The controversy from the match arose when the Match Review Panel revealed their disciplinary findings on Monday afternoon with Wire’s brilliant prop Paul Vaughan slapped with a Grade E charge.

Vaughan was charged with ‘making unnecessary contact with a player who may be injured’ and last night’s Operational Rules Tribunal found him guilty, banning him for four games.

That’s caused outrage and confusion from pundit Jon Wilkin who expressed his opinion on Sky Sports’ RL Verdict.

Previewing the final round of Super League, with all six games set to take place at 8pm on Friday evening, Wilkin explained Warrington will be without their talismanic forward when they face Huddersfield away.

“Let’s not forget, Warrington are without Paul Vaughan,” Wilkin noted before ridiculing the decision.

“Right, if you get the chance, if anybody gets the chance, go get some popcorn; if you want to watch a comedy, go and watch the incident that Paul Vaughan’s been banned for.

“Tell me that we’re not getting it wrong, tell me that the match review panel do not get this wrong. It’s the craziest thing I’ve ever seen.

“It’s a four-match ban, and if Warrington were to make the next stages, which I don’t think they will because I think Huddersfield will get a result on Friday, then Paul Vaughan would have missed the Grand Final over the most petty nonsense that I’ve ever seen.”

At present Warrington are in the playoffs and with such a large points difference advantage over seventh placed Salford then they just need to win to get into the playoffs.

For now though they won’t have Vaughan however it’s believed Warrington will contest the suspension given that they have named the Australian in their 21-man squad for Friday night.