Super League Disciplinary: Leeds Rhinos star receives appeal verdict

The decision on Leeds Rhinos‘ appeal over Cameron Smith’s penalty notice has been made by the Match Review Panel.

Cameron Smith was, on Monday, given a Grade B Dangerous Contact charge.

As it was at the higher end of the sanction grade, he was handed a 1 Match Penalty Notice, meaning he would miss Leeds’ game against Warrington Wolves on Friday.

The charge was for late contact on Danny Richardson following a kick in their match against Castleford Tigers, which was not penalised at the time.

Due to two charges of late contact last year, he was put at the higher end of the grade.

The Rhinos announced on Tuesday that they would be appealing the charge.

Leeds Rhinos will appeal the Grade B Dangerous Contact charge against captain Cameron Smith from the Match Review Panel after last Thursday’s win at Castleford Tigers. Smith has been handed a one game ban which would mean he would miss this Friday’s clash with Warrington Wolves. pic.twitter.com/zhyngaBg1G

— Leeds Rhinos (@leedsrhinos) April 2, 2024

The RFL minutes explain the charge: “A defending player makes contact with an opponent after the ball has been released by an opponent in a vulnerable position which causes flexion to the head, neck or spinal column on an attacking player, which poses an unacceptable risk of injury to that player.”

Despite the referee and video referee seeing nothing wrong with it at the time, Justin Sangare has also been given a 1 Match Penalty Notice, and a Grade C Head Contact charge for head-on-head contact in the same game.

Leeds Rhinos have accepted the decision, and will not be appealing.

Leeds Rhinos Cameron Smith verdict

Cameron Smith won his appeal with the charge downgraded to a Grade A enabling him to feature against Warrington Wolves.

The Rhinos confirmed the news with a statement on X: “Cameron Smith has successfully appealed the grading of his charge by the Match Review Panel. It has been downgraded from Grade B to Grade A, which carries a £250 fine but he will be free to lead the team on Friday against Warrington Wolves.”

The Wolves themselves accepted the ban they received for Paul Vaughan.