The Super League disciplinary verdict for the penultimate round of the competition has been confirmed with some key man banned, including Leigh Leopards hooker Edwin Ipape.
Ipape was sent to the sin bin somewhat controversially on Friday night when Leigh beat St Helens as they secured a top four finish in the process with their 28-10 win. The hooker caught his opposite number Daryl Clark and was sent for ten just before the break, and with Ipape already on five penalty points, it meant an automatic ban after he was handed a Grade A charge for late contact on the passer.
As such, he will miss the Leopards’ final game of the regular season against Huddersfield Giants, however, head coach Adrian Lam will arguably much rather that he miss this game than the first play-off game, which comes a week later.
Ipape wasn’t the only player from Friday’s game to fall foul of the Super League disciplinary system with St Helens’ George Delaney, another man who was teetering on the edge of a ban, receiving a sufficient enough charge to ensure he gets a one-game ban.
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Round 26 Super League disciplinary verdict confirms several bans
Of the play-off contending teams, both Delaney and Ipape were at risk of bans with both men carrying five penalty points into Round 26 and they’ve now both been banned.
Delaney has been handed a Grade A charge for late contact on the passer, the same as Ipape, meaning he too moves to six penalty points and a ban.
Lachlan Fitzgibbon is the other Super League player banned, handed a two-game ban, after a Grade D charge of head contact. That was also bumped up to 15 penalty points due to Sam Eseh failing his subsequent HIA.
Alex Bishop of Barrow Raiders was also banned for foul and abusive language towards the match official, a Grade C charge worth five penalty points.
Other Super League players earning penalty points included Jordan Lane, Kaide Ellis, Sam Luckley and Josh Charnley with all charged for late contact on the passer. All four copped Grade A charges.
A full list of all the Super League players and two Championship players handed disciplinary charges can be seen below.
| Player | Club | Opposition | Charge | Grade | Penalty Points | Total Points in previous 12 months | Sanction if applicable |
| Lachlan Fitzgibbon | Warrington Wolves | Hull FC | Head Contact | D | 15 | 17.5 | 2 match suspension and a fine |
| Jordan Lane | Hull FC | Warrington Wolves | Late contact on passer | A | 1 | 3.5 | Fine |
| Tariq Sims | Catalans Dragons | Leeds Rhinos | Contrary behaviour | A | 1 | 3 | Fine |
| Kaide Ellis | Wigan Warriors | Castleford Tigers | Late contact on passer | A | 1 | 3 | Fine |
| Sam Luckley | Hull KR | Wakefield Trinity | Late contact on passer | A | 1 | 1 | No further action |
| Daryl Clark | St Helens | Leigh Leopards | Late contact on kicker | A | 1 | 3 | Fine |
| Josh Charnley | Leigh Leopards | St Helens | Late contact on passer | A | 1 | 2.5 | No further action |
| Edwin Ipape | Leigh Leopards | St Helens | Late contact on passer | A | 1 | 6 | 1 match suspension |
| George Delaney | St Helens | Leigh Leopards | Late contact on passer | A | 1 | 6 | 1 match suspension |
| Rhodri Lloyd | Widnes Vikings | London Broncos | Dangerous Contact | A | 1 | 1 | No further action |
| Alex Bishop | Barrow Raiders | Sheffield Eagles | Foul and abusive language towards match official | C | 5 | 7.5 | 1 match suspension |
