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Rohan Smith reveals how ban has affected Leeds Rhinos star Rhyse Martin

There has been one major talking point this week and that has been the ban handed to Leeds Rhinos star Rhyse Martin.

Martin was given a one-match ban after a high tackle on Castleford Tigers’ Alex Mellor was cited and charged by the Match Review Panel.

That wasn’t left there, though, with Martin and Leeds going to the Operations Rules Tribunal last night to appeal. That, however, failed with Martin’s ban extended to two games.

That not only leaves Martin out of Leeds’ fixture against the Catalans Dragons on Friday night, but also a potential semi-final if the Rhinos are successful this weekend.

However, Leeds head coach Rohan Smith has revealed how it has affected the Papua New Guinea international.

“Rhyse is a super mature and respected kind of guy, he is gutted,” Smith said.

“He has only missed one game from that previous suspension and missed two to go home for the funeral of his father.

“He has invested so much into this season and to miss the game is a tough one. He is a great guy, he is helping those around him. Credit to him. he is all about the team.”

On the ban itself, Smith was unhappy and called for a potential review at the end of the season into the Match Review Panel.

“The charge itself I’m not really sure if that’s the type of tackle that is actually an issue,” Smith said.

“It is an accident, I do think Rhyse was taking some care in the way he went about it. It was a falling player and a glancing touch and to me the process around it all, you are essentially guilty until you are found guiltier if you decide to appeal.

“The process in itself where teams are on online calls that doesn’t have the ability to go frame through frame with real clarity, it is a little vague, I’m not sure why we aren’t face to face looking at the same screen and technology that we have available. It will make the process a little clearer.

“It was difficult to sure, we had a 30-minute conversation led by the judge who probed questions. We had a detailed analysis of the tackle and a comparison clip that wasn’t the same style of tackle that was ranked as a caution and we though it had more force applied.”

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