Despite having success in appealing large bans previously, Hull KR have opted not to appeal against the huge six-match ban handed to forward Tevita Pangai Jr.
Playing just his third game for Hull KR, Pangai Jr was thrust into the action early on Friday night in the loss to Leeds Rhinos as a result of head knocks for Dean Hadley and Tom Amone.
The former State of Origin man quickly got himself involved in the battle and an incident with Jake Connor has resulted in the Match Review Panel handing down a six-match ban.
After Connor intercepted Pangai Jr’s misplaced offload, the forward tackled the reigning Man of Steel before pushing his hand into the face of the prone Leeds Rhinos man with that act deemed to be ‘gouging’ by the disciplinary panel, thus resulting in a six-game ban.
Given that there are only 12 games left for Hull KR, it means the forward will now miss half of their remaining regular season games with his return date aptly set against former club Catalans Dragons on August 13th.
Hull KR could have appealed the ban and seen it reduced or perhaps even wiped out entirely with the club previously seeing both Peta Hiku and Rhyse Martin have large bans overturned but they’ve opted against challenging this one.
A failed appeal would have carried a punishment of five extra penalty points and with them, an added game, which would have seen the forward miss the rearranged round two fixture against Warrington Wolves that’s set to be played on Tuesday the 18th of August.
Hull KR have seemingly deemed a successful appeal unlikely and therefore opted against it with the next six weeks presenting an opportunity for Pangai Jr to get himself into Super League shape, with the forward having previously admitted that he enjoyed the croissants and bread in France a little too much.
Willie Peters has also challenged him on his fitness so this ban will present that opportunity.
