The RFL have explained why St Helens’ Morgan Knowles was not charged with a disciplinary offence following a tackle which left Leeds Rhinos prop Mikolaj Oledzki with a serious facial injury.
Oledzki suffered a fractured cheekbone and damage to an eye socket after being hurt late in last Friday’s 6-0 home loss to Saints.
He was taken to hospital following the game and is set to undergo surgery which could keep him off the field for up to eight weeks.
No action was taken by on-field referee Jack Smith and the RFL’s match review panel agreed there was no foul play.
The panel’s report stated: “The mrp viewing the footage did not see contact with the head on initial contact from either Morgan Knowles or any of his teammates.
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“As the tackle was going to ground, Oledzki and Knowles have a hold of each other tight and Knowles lands on top of Oledzki, but this contact was deemed accidental given the mechanics of the tackle going to ground and the action of others involved.”
Oledzki is a member of England’s training squad ahead of this autumn’s Ashes Test against Australia and his loss is a major blow to Rhinos who are battling for a top-four finish in Betfred Super League.
Two Saints players were charged over incidents in last weekend’s game. Agnatius Paasi was handed three penalty points after the panel charged him with grade B head contact on Leeds Rhinos’ Alfie Edgell, which led to a yellow card. Teammate Jonny Lomax received one penalty point following a grade A dangerous throw/lift on Lachie Miller.
Stuart Richard Acton
July 16, 2025 at 2:17 pm
To answer the question. Quite simple, he plays for St Helens.
There is a clear bias towards the top teams and bans on plyers or not.
Horne got 6 matches recently for liftin an injured player up, Ryhs Martyn committed exactly the same offence and got of scott free, despite a letter being sent by Wigan stating that their player was not injured.
Anonymous
July 16, 2025 at 8:52 pm
its a joke