“No consistency” – Matt Peet questions high tackle laws after Wigan Warriors sin bin

Wigan Warriors head coach Matt Peet has questioned the laws surrounding high tackles in Super League following Liam Byrne’s sin-bin in their victory over Huddersfield Giants at the weekend.

Byrne was given ten minutes for, remarkably, the very first tackle of the match, in which there was contact to the head.

Being down to twelve men within the first minute could have made it a long afternoon for the Warriors, but they stormed to a 48-6 victory, kicked-off by Liam Marshall’s incredible length-of-the-field try just a minute later.

Although Elliot Wallis scored an excellent try in response, Wigan went on to score 40 points without reply at the John Smith’s Stadium.

Later in the game, Esan Marsters was also given a sin-bin for a trip with just eight-and-a-half minutes remaining.

Disciplinary concerns for Wigan Warriors?

Up next for Wigan Warriors is a Challenge Cup semi-final against Hull KR, who lost 20-8 against Warrington Wolves on Thursday.

Therefore, any potential disciplinary action will be of the ultimate concern to the side.

Asked whether he expected Liam Byrne to be available for that game, Peet said:“I’m confident that he will.

“If he misses out from today, I don’t think he will be the only one because I thought there were similar contacts.

“I’m not saying it was the wrong decision. But I can’t see consistency across one high tackle to the next.

“But I expect him to be fine.”

The decisions surrounding all disciplinary issues from the weekend will be revealed today after being decided by the Match Review Panel.

Another man to question the consistency around high tackles this week was Jon Wilkin, but he looked at it from another point of view.

Another early high-tackle this weekend was that of Tommy Makinson on Castleford Tigers’ Tex Hoy, with his shoulder-to-the-head resulting in a penalty try for the Tigers and a red card for Makinson.

Comparing the decisions, Wilkin fumed: “If that’s where we go with it then Liam Byrne should have got a red card.

“There was also a head clash between two players that left Tyler Dupree bleeding. That should be a red card then.

“I think it’s dangerous ground.”