Wigan Warriors make appeal decision after key duo handed heavy bans

Wigan Warriors have made their decision on whether or not to appeal the three-match bans handed down to key duo Harry Smith and Sam Walters.

Serious About Rugby League understand that Wigan have elected not to appeal the bans, meaning that both Smith and Walters will miss the next three matches.

They will now miss Super League games against Castleford Tigers, Warrington Wolves and Bradford Bulls but crucially, they will return to action for the Challenge Cup semi-final against St Helens.

Both men had been handed a Grade E charge worth 18 penalty points in the latest Super League disciplinary wrap after their actions against Wakefield Trinity in the Challenge Cup.

Harry Smith was charged with making contact with an injured or potentially injured player, with the England half-back pushing Wakefield’s Jazz Tevaga whilst the Trinity man lay prone on the floor with a possible leg injury.

That is an offence that the RFL have been very strict on in recent years particularly in relation to possible head injuries, though Smith still felt the full force of the Match Review Panel as he was handed a three-match ban.

As for Walters, he was charged with a headbutt on Wakefield’s Jay Pitts with his three-game ban something that cannot be argued.

Had Wigan decided to appeal the charges, they would have gone to an Operational Rules Tribunal later tonight. If they had failed in their appeal then an extra five penalty points would have been added to the player’s record, bringing them even closer to a future ban.

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