Hull KR man ‘lucky’ to avoid card as pundits highlight flaw in rugby league laws

The decision not to punish Hull KR forward Jared Waerea-Hargreaves has been criticised by pundits with flaws in the rugby league laws highlighted.

Waerea-Hargreaves was involved in a number of flashpoints in the game, which the Robins won 10-6, but questions arose around the hour mark as to whether he should have been sent to the sin bin when carrying the ball into contact.

It’s very rare that players are penalised when carrying the ball into contact, however, Wigan’s Tyler Dupree was forced to leave the field for a Head Injury Assessment after being caught by Waerea-Hargreaves’ leading elbow.

The video ref looked at the incident but no action was taken, however, both Sky Sports pundits Jon Wilkin and Paul Cooke disagreed with that call.

“Yeah, I think he is,” Wilkin responded when asked if JWH had been lucky to stay on the field.

At that moment in the game, Hull KR dropping to 12 men could have been pivotal, however, Wilkin would go on to explain why he felt JWH wasn’t sin binned.

Hull KR forward ‘lucky’ to avoid sin bin after elbow to defender’s face

Wilkin pointed to the current laws of the games not favouring the defender in contact, something he believes needs to change given the current climate around minimising head contact.

He explained: “I think it’s important to contextualise this in terms of the framework of the rules and laws of the game. Currently, the framework that decides whether this is legal or not places all of the responsibility on the defending player, which seems ludicrous.

“The defender player there has just got elbowed in the face. If we take head injuries seriously, and we should because of the pending litigation against the game and all of the changes that are going on, then we need to take that seriously.

“I called out Sam Lisone doing something not too dissimilar.”

It was then put to Wilkin that Lisone had led with the shoulder and not the elbow, however, Paul Cooke didn’t care either way as he argued that the Hull KR forward was lucky to stay on the field in his opinion.

The ex-Hull FC and Hull KR man said: “I’m more worried that nothing gets done and it doesn’t even go on report. Tyler Dupree leaves the field for an HIA, if he leaves the field for an HIA then it means there’s contact to the head in some which way.

“It’s clear to see that he’s led with the forearm, which is his non-ball-carrying arm, so it’s very different and I think he’s a little bit lucky.”

The scenes as Hull KR go six points clear of Wigan Warriors at the top of the Super League! 🎉🔥 pic.twitter.com/Gk28hTfLbn

— Sky Sports Rugby League (@SkySportsRL) August 15, 2025