The Super League disciplinary verdict is in following the Challenge Cup Final between Wigan Warriors and Hull KR.
Wigan won the trophy at Wembley after a 40-10 mauling of the Robins, but their afternoon came at a cost, with two players picking up bans.
Sam Walters will miss the next SEVEN matches for a dangerous tackle on Bill Leyland. The Wiganer lifted the hooker before Junior Nsemba came in to complete the tackle, however things went askew and Leyland ended up landing on his neck.
Thankfully, he was able to carry on with no injury. As a result, Walters was shown a red card on the day, becoming the first player in over 30 years to be sent off in a Challenge Cup Final.
Nsemba wasn’t punished on the day, and he has not received a charge from the Match Review Panel.
Walters’ seven match ban comes from the fact he already had 4.5 on his record for the headbutt in the Challenge Cup quarter-final win over Wakefield. Grade F charges carry 36 points, but one point gets deducted due to him being sent off.
As a result, he now has 39.5 points on his record, seeing him sidelined until Round 20, where Wigan host St Helens.
Making matters worse for Wigan, half-back Harry Smith will miss out on this week’s trip to Paris, where the Warriors take on Catalans Dragons.
Smith has been hit with a Grade B charge for head contact on KR’s Tom Davies.
It was an incident that caused controversy at the time, with many expecting the playmaker to be sent to the sin-bin. Referee Liam Moore felt otherwise, and awarded a penalty only.
The Grade B charge carries three penalty points, and after already having 4.5 points carried over on his record for touching an injured Jazz Tevaga in the quarter-finals, it takes Smith over the threshold for a one-game suspension.
Tom Amone, who hit Sam Walters high in the first half and was part of the reason Smith wasn’t shown a yellow, has not been cited.
Wigan Warriors pair suspended after Challenge Cup Final
The disciplinary verdict reads in full:
| Player | Club | Opposition | Charge | Grade | Penalty Points | Total Points in previous 12 months | Sanction if applicable |
| Harry Smith | Wigan Warriors | Hull KR | Head Contact | B | 3 | 7.5 | 1 match suspension |
| Sam Luckley | Hull KR | Wigan Warriors | Late contact on passer | A | 1 | 1.75 | No further action |
| Sam Walters | Wigan Warriors | Hull KR | Dangerous Throw/Lift | F | 35 | 39.5 | 7 match suspension and fine |
John
June 1, 2026 at 3:03 pm
Usual farce. The ref said Smith made contact with the ball/ arm first. Absolute nonsense at th e time and so the review panel thought watching it.
Apparently Walters received the charge because he instigated the tackle. Absolutely correct, but by the time Nsemba slammed him head first into the floor, Walters had let go. Maybe Wigan will appeal and on review, Nsemba will get the grade F.