Castleford Tigers set to appeal Liam Horne ban amid Wigan Warriors letter

Castleford Tigers look set to appeal the ban Liam Horne was handed by a tribunal on Tuesday night, head coach Danny McGuire has confirmed.

Horne was issued with a Grade E charge on Monday for touching an injured player on the ground during the Tigers’ agonising home defeat to Wigan Warriors on Saturday. As such, he stood in front of a tribunal on Tuesday night before being found guilty of the charge and handed a six-game ban, which is the minimum punishment for such an offence.

However, on the same night Hull KR forward Rhyse Martin was cleared of the same offence with the former Leeds Rhinos man now able to face off against his former club on Sunday.

Horne’s ban means he will likely miss Thursday’s clash with Huddersfield Giants regardless of any appeal decision given the timing of that fixture. But, the club believe they have a case to appeal the suspension and are currently considering their options.

Castleford Tigers boss speaks out on ban

Speaking ahead of Thursday’s contest at The Jungle, McGuire spoke at length about the charge: “I’m disappointed.

“I just feel like we’ve gone away from common sense in the game now. We’ve gone away from looking at an incident and judging it with common sense. I think everyone in the whole ground and everyone watching the clip back understands.

“I have nothing against the way Wigan played that last set. If I’m in that situation I’m telling my players to take their time playing the ball and that’s fine. They’re well within their rights to do that, the ref has instructed them to get up and play the ball and Liam is anxious for us to get a chance to attack and get back in the game and with the Wigan players were laughing and smiling and joking with him looking at the clock.

“It’s just so obvious what’s playing out and for the game not to able to understand that and see that and realise that, it’s crazy. Now Liam gets a six game ban, we talk about players’ mental health and it being a big thing, what if Liam was out of contract and he’s playing for a new contract and his livelihood and some person behind a video screen has judged an incident on that, it’s crazy.

“I think we just don’t use any common sense in the game anymore. We’re looking to do something about it. I feel like we’ve got a really strong appeal and there was a very similar incident in another game that didn’t go that way.

“The inconsistencies are frustrating, frustrating for everybody.”

Pushed further on the possibility of an appeal, McGuire added: “We’re taking some advice, we’re looking at our options and I feel like we’ve got a really strong case. When an injured player is down, I instruct my players not to touch them or go anywhere near them and my players are smart enough to know when someone is hurt or in a vulnerable position, they won’t touch them or pick them up.

“But he was laughing and joking winding the time down, so Horney knows that he’s not injured. It’s common sense. Liam isn’t the type of player to pick him up if he’s hurt, there’d be a cry or a yelp or a scream normally if someone is hurt.

“Wigan have agreed, Wigan have sent a letter saying he wasn’t injured. I find it bewildering I really do.”