Hull KR head coach Willie Peters has expressed his disappointment and shock at the fact that Wigan’s Junior Nsemba was not charged for the role he played in the ‘disturbing’ tackle on Bill Leyland late on in Saturday’s Challenge Cup Final.
Wigan Warriors’ Sam Walters was sent off late on for his role in the tackle as he lifted Leyland above the horizontal and began the process of bringing the Hull KR hooker towards the ground, a process that was seemingly accelerated and had force added to it by the actions of second tackler Junior Nsemba.
Despite Walters being handed a huge seven-match ban for the tackle, Nsemba avoided any punishment, with the view of the Match Review Panel understood to be that Walters was the man who initially endangered Leyland.
The decision not to charge Nsemba was something that KR head coach Willie Peters was asked about during his press conference today (Wednesday), as he stated: “I was very disappointed and I’ve made that known.
“That tackle is the worst I’ve seen, especially with a player being put in a position. It’s up there, should I say, with the worst I’ve seen.
“It’s both players’ responsibility in that instance. So, yeah, I was pretty shocked, to be honest, for Junior not to be suspended as well.”
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Bill Leyland update as Hull KR boss left shocked at lack of Nsemba ban
Peters admitted that he was unclear what sort of penalty Nsemba should have received, though he was steadfast in his belief that the second-rower contributed to the endangerment of his hooker, who he thankfully confirmed was fine, albeit tender.
The Hull KR boss said: “I don’t know what numbers that should have been, but Junior certainly, I believe, added to Bill being put in the position that he was in. I’ve been told different and I’ve made it clear that nothing’s going to change my mind on that.”
On Leyland, he added: “He was shaken, very shaken. We sent him for some scans just to make sure everything was okay and everything is okay.
“Obviously, his family, his mum, very shaken. Honestly, mate, it was a disturbing tackle, I’m just so thankful that nothing came out of it.
“I’m not saying that the Wigan players went out to deliberately do that, but everyone’s got a responsibility in player safety and that type of thing, and as I said, it was a really disturbing tackle.”
Peters would again underline his belief that Leyland was not specifically targetted, a notion that some had put forth given the hooker’s game-winning performance on loan at St Helens against Wigan Warriors.
However, he again circled back to his confusion at why Nsemba was not viewed to have contributed to Leyland’s position, stating: “I just think in this situation, I just don’t see how Junior hasn’t played a part in putting Bill in that position.
“You watch it once, it’s a disturbing tackle. A very, very disturbing tackle. My mind is not going to change from what I believe and what I’ve seen that two people have played a part in that tackle.
“It’s up to people above to decide on things like that, but I’ll have a strong opinion on it and that opinion is two players played a part.
“They haven’t intentionally and I’m sure that they didn’t want to put Bill in that position but unfortunately, they did, and it was done because two people and very big, strong men have put him in that position.”
DAVE
June 3, 2026 at 5:11 pm
WHINGING WILLIE if he had any tactical nouse the game would have been close. Talking about one incident in the game is to deflect from horribly naive tactical thinking over the last two weeks. Sour grapes indeed.
John
June 3, 2026 at 6:57 pm
Dave.
You are an idiot.
How can you possibly suggest commenting on a tackle which could have broken a player’s neck is “whingeing”???
Dave
June 3, 2026 at 7:38 pm
John the correct player was banned for seven games the tackle is not in question. Peters’ behaviour is what in question, he is clearly deflecting his anger at being outwitted. Leyland was not injured thankfully which makes this even more obvious.
Ray
June 3, 2026 at 8:20 pm
Dave you are wrong.Nsembas input put the Kr player in a terrible position,Leyland was very lucky he was not seriously injured.The match review panel and disciplinary are totally inadequate,not just for this incident but others.Shame on them and you.
Dave
June 3, 2026 at 9:43 pm
Walters did the tipping Ray they got it right. Much like Willie you’re transferring anger for the loss at folks who dont deserve it. Gaz is spot on Mikey gets away with lashing out with his hands and feet quite often. You look JWH last year and he got away with some real snide and had special dispensation for the final. You cant call foul in this context. Nsemba is a spiritual guy he does not have malice in his game which Is why he is so good. If Mikey had a better mind set he would be less of a liability to HKR, I would like to see the new coach change his thinking similar to Jake Connor just imagine the player you would have then…
GEEP
June 3, 2026 at 10:25 pm
Short memories. JWH should have been banned from last year’s final
With the final being his last game he was given a free pass to do what he wanted. Which he did with tackle on Junior. Typical whinging Aussie/ adopted Yorkshire man
Ray
June 4, 2026 at 5:59 pm
I’m neutral,not Kr or FC just saying what I see and it was both of them.
Gaz
June 3, 2026 at 9:11 pm
Poor tackle that has been dealt with. That’s what the RFL is there for.
Maybe Peters needs to look at his own team and deal with that shower. If possible talk to his shameful cheat of a captain about throwing himself on the floor to try and get an obstruction penalty, or Magic Mikey and his inability to make a tackle, or his over the hill squad which fell apart in the Wembley heat.
Just saying – he has a few things other than the disciplinary to worry about – no wonder he’s legging it to PNG.