St Helens have seen star winger Kyle Feldt handed a three-match ban for the high tackle that landed him in the sin bin during Saints’ Challenge Cup win over Castleford Tigers.
It’s perhaps not a surprise that the winger has been banned, given that Castleford’s Krystian Mapapalangi failed a HIA off the back of the shot, meaning any charge was always going to carry an added three point penalty for causing injury.
Therefore, even a Grade B charge would have resulted in a ban but the RFL’s Match Review Panel decided on a Grade E charge, carrying 18 points, thus ensuring the three-match suspension.
Feldt will now miss games against Toulouse Olympique, Hull KR and the all-important Good Friday derby against Wigan Warriors, but St Helens will just have to ‘cop it and move on’ in the words of head coach Paul Rowley, who was asked by Serious About Rugby League about the sin bin.
‘We cop it’ – St Helens boss on sin bin that led to ban
Addressing the media directly after the game on Saturday evening, Rowley gave Serious About Rugby League his verdict on the yellow card. The Saints boss was relatively accepting of the sin bin, though did admit he’d not had a clear view of the challenge.
“It’s a high tackle. I think if there was a video ref then I think we’d be hearing the words mitigation but there’s no replay,” Rowley explained, with opposition coach Ryan Carr having also lamented the lack of video referee.
Rowley continued: “I didn’t know the score until someone announced it because there’s no score, there’s no six again hooter so one thing I can’t do is see in the far corner of the pitch if it was a sin bin or not.
“I’ve not got the best of eyes anyway, so I certainly can’t give you a clear answer on that one but we cop it whatever it is and move on, that’s what this team does.”
That final message will ring true even more so now given Feldt has copped a substantial ban, with the likes of Owen Dagnall or former Wigan man Jacob Douglas possible candidates to feature on the wing. Deon Cross is another candidate to play there given that centre Mark Percival returned from injury against Castleford.
No other St Helens players were banned, though Percival did pick up a Grade A charge and one penalty point on his return to action.
