Seven players charged by Match Review Panel

Round Four of the Betfred Super League has been and gone.

Seven players have been charged by the Match Review Panel after the latest round of fixtures.

However, none of them have received bans in a prime example of how the Match Review Panel is working this year with a bigger focus on fines rather than suspensions.

One player was charged but not punished at all in the shape of Tom Opacic of Hull KR who was charged with Grade A Dangerous Contact.

Three players have been fined £250 for Grade B Dangerous Contact including Leeds Rhinos’ Cameron Smith.

Josh Griffin was charged with a trip, Jack Brown for a dangerous throw and Manu Ma’u for a strike.

St Helens star Matty Lees was cautioned for dangerous contact.

Following the latest round of Betfred Super League fixtures, the Match Review Panel have issued the following sanctions:

Manu Mau (Catalans Dragons) – Grade B Strikes – £250 fine
Cameron Smith (Leeds Rhinos) – Grade B Dangerous Contact – £250 fine
Joe Westerman (Castleford Tigers) – Grade B Dangerous Contact – £250 fine
Tom Opacic (Hull KR) – Grade A Dangerous Contact – N/A
Ben Currie (Warrington Wolves) – Grade B Dangerous Contact – £250 fine
Josh Griffin (Hull FC) – Grade B Trips – £250 fine
Jack Brown (Hull FC) – Grade B Dangerous Throw – £250 fine

The following player was handed a caution:

Matty Lees (St Helens) – Dangerous Contact

Last week the likes of Konrad Hurrell, Ben Reynolds, Curtis Sironen and Sione Mata’utia all picked up bans from the panel prior to Shaun Kenny-Dowall receiving a four match ban from the ensuing tribunal.

So, it is a far better week for the panel this week.

It is, as aforementioned, evidence of the new approach and a show that the league’s best players will be forced out of the side less frequently.