Sione Mata’utia punishment worse than Joe Shorrocks – Here’s why

The match review panel has made their decisions on the Wigan Warriors, Hull KR, Leigh Leopards and St Helens stars who were in hot water after the Challenge Cup semi-finals at Leeds Rhinos’ Headingley Stadium and Warrington Wolves’ Halliwell Jones.

There were always going to be major talking points when it came to disciplinary but the biggest were undoubtedly going to centre around Sione Mata’utia’s yellow card and the red card for Joe Shorrocks.

Mata’utia hit Ben Reynolds late and a touch high and was sin binned at a key moment in the game.

Shorrocks meanwhile hit Mikey Lewis high and was sent off for direct contact with the head.

Mata’utia and Shorrocks have been charged with the exact same offence (except for a slight variation in the allegation) but Mata’utia has been banned for two games and Shorrocks for one as you can see below:

Name: Sione Matautia
Club and Shirt Number: St Helens, 11
Match: Leigh Leopards v St Helens
Competition and Date: Betfred Challenge Cup, 22nd July 2023
Report Received From: MRP
Time: 01 22 14
Details of Allegation: Late contact on kicker
Decision: Charge
Details of Charge /
Reason for NFA:
Law 15.1 (b)
High Tackle – Reckless – tried to tackle but reckless about outcome.
Grade C
Penalty Notice: 2 Match Penalty Notice

Name: Joe Shorrocks
Club and Shirt Number: Wigan Warriors, 19
Match: Hull KR v Wigan Warriors
Competition and Date: Betfred Challenge Cup, 23rd July 2023
Report Received From: MRP
Time: 59 35
Details of Allegation: High Tackle
Decision: Charge
Details of Charge /
Reason for NFA:
Law 15.1 (b)
High Tackle – Reckless – tried to tackle but reckless about outcome.
Grade C
Penalty Notice: 1 Match Penalty Notice

The obvious question is why does a yellow card offence receive a worse punishment than a red card.

On one hand, the match review panel could believe that either the Shorrocks offence was in fact a yellow or that Mata’utia’s deserved a red.

Either way they deemed them the same offence but Mata’utia has picked up a worse punishment perhaps due to the fact he has a worse previous record or perhaps due to the fact Shorrocks already served a worse punishment.