RFL precedent criticised amid pundit’s ‘harsh’ disciplinary verdict

Jon Wilkin has lamented the RFL Match Review Panel’s decisions with yet another heavy ban handed out this week.

This week, five Super League players were handed bans, with the heaviest going to Fenton Rogers and Paul Vaughan, both of whom were sent off in the most recent round of fixtures.

Fenton Rogers was given two separate bans totalling four games out, while Paul Vaughan will miss three games, even after an appeal, which was unsuccessful.

Also receiving suspensions were Castleford Tigers duo Sylvester Namo and Liam Horne, who will miss two and one games respectively, and Huddersfield’s Sam Hewitt, banned for one game.

Jon Wilkin says the RFL have put themselves in a “pickle” over “harsh” match bans

Speaking on Sky Sports’ The Verdict, Jon Wilkin gave his opinion on the two red cards, saying: “These look harsh and feel harsh, and been punished harshly in my opinion – but we’re all campaigning for less head contacts.”

Wilkin was particularly vexed by the red card handed to Vaughan, which resulted in a Grade D Head Contact charge. He said: “This one, you blink and you miss it.

“Without a doubt he hits him in the head and without doubt it’s a penalty. Without a doubt it’s a yellow card.. maybe a red card is too strong but a three-match ban?”

There have been lengthy bans handed out throughout the entire campaign, particularly early on.

Wilkin suggested that Vaughan’s suspension was actually a consequence of previous punishments handed out, saying: “For me, the Match Review Panel have got themselves in a bit of a pickle.

“They gave Tommy Makinson a three-match ban not so long back, it just feels harsh for Paul Vaughan. He missed the majority of that game and to miss that, Warrington lost that game.

“The consequence of those cards going into the play-offs could be huge, especially for Warrington.”