Hull KR will be without Peta Hiku for their upcoming match against Warrington Wolves with the Kiwi centre banned in the latest Super League disciplinary wrap.
The Match Review Panel have met to dish out the disciplinary punishments after round 18 of Super League and Rovers’ centre Hiku is the only man to be banned amid a total of eight charges.
Those eight charges go to just seven players as St Helens‘ Curtis Sironen was charged twice but avoided a ban, whilst his teammate Daniel Suluka-Fifita was another to be charged.
For Hiku, he’ been banned for the same incident that saw him sin binned as he blatantly tackled an opponent off the ball after the pass had already gone.
Referee Chris Kendall was having none of it and neither are the Super League disciplinary panel with the Rovers man copping a Grade C charge, worth five points. That has carried him over the threshold for a one-match ban meaning he’ll miss out on a return to face his former club Warrington this week.
Saints pair Sironen and Suluka-Fifita were both handed Grade B charges for striking, landing them fines, with Sironen also handed a Grade A charge for late contact on the passer.
That same charge went to Isaiah Vagana of Wakefield and Xavier Va’a of York Knights, both of whom also landed a Grade A charge, highlighting how severe and obvious Hiku’s late shot was given he landed a Grade C charge for that same offence.
Va’a’s teammates Kieran Buchanan and Jack Martin were also handed Grade B charges for dangerous contact and late contact, respectively, though neither man has been banned.
Perhaps interesting from the disciplinary fall-out is that Louis Senior has not had any charge issued despite being sin binned for his shot on David Armstrong, one of several decisions that Castleford coach Ryan Carr took issue with.
Super League Round 18 disciplinary charges
| Player | Club | Opposition | Charge | Grade | Penalty Points | Total Points in previous 12 months | Sanction if applicable |
| Daniel Suluka-Fifita | St Helens | Toulouse Olympique | Strikes | B | 3 | 3.75 | Fine |
| Curtis Sironen | St Helens | Toulouse Olympique | Late contact on passer | A | 1 | 2 | No further action |
| Curtis Sironen | St Helens | Toulouse Olympique | Strikes | B | 3 | 4.25 | Fine |
| Peta Hiku | Hull KR | Wakefield Trinity | Late contact on passer | C | 5 | 6.25 | 1 match suspension |
| Isaiah Vagana | Wakefield Trinity | Hull KR | Late contact on passer | A | 1 | 2.5 | No further action |
| Jack Martin | York Knights | Hull FC | Head Contact | B | 3 | 3.75 | Fine |
| Kieran Buchanan | York Knights | Hull FC | Dangerous Contact | B | 3 | 3 | Fine |
| Xavier Va’a | York Knights | Hull FC | Late contact on passer | A | 1 | 2 | No further action |
