Match Review Panel minutes show why not every late hit is punished

Seven Super League players have been charged by the match review panel after the Challenge Cup games over the weekend.

Five of these charges were unsurprisingly for dangerous contact. Meanwhile four of these five were for late contact.

Some fans will argue however that there are instances of this that go unpunished but an example from this week shows when and why some of these moments are not punished.

Huddersfield Giants’ Chris Hill was cited twice but received no ban and one of these was for late contact.

However, the minutes explain why: “Player is engaged by opponent and braces for contact.”

This shows that when a player is engaged and then does his best to brace for the contact, a ban is not necessary.

Hill’s other citation avoided a ban because: “Player swings body round but does not apply pressure to the legs of the opponent.”

Turning to those who were banned, unsurprisingly, Morgan Knowles is among them after his late red card against Halifax Panthers.

He tackled Thomas Inman high in the 79th minute of the cup tie and was shown a red card.

Making matters worse, this was his first game back from a five game suspension after a hip drop tackle on Mike Cooper in the derby between St Helens and Wigan Warriors on Good Friday.

Meanwhile, Hull KR star Rhyse Kennedy is also banned for dangerous contact and the same can be said of Josh Drinkwater of Warrington Wolves who only receives a one match ban despite a Grade C offence.

Jorge Taufua of Wakefield Trinity is the only player who was charged but not punished.

Meanwhile, Marc Sneyd of Salford Red Devils, Josh McGuire of Warrington Wolves and Josh Griffin are all fined £250 in yet another example of the RFL’s focus on fines over bans in 2023.