St Helens make statement after star man his hit with ban
Hull FC v St Helens Picture by Allan McKenzie/SWpix.com - 19/02/2022 - Rugby League - Betfred Super League Round 2 - Hull FC v St Helens - MKM Stadium, Kingston upon Hull, England - Matty Lees. Kingston upon Hull MKM Stadium England Copyright: x xSWpix.comxt/axPhotographyxHubxLtdxAllanxMcKenzie/SWpix.comx
Unsurprisingly, Rivals Round has produced the most bans in Super League for some time and three of the seven charged incidents came from the game between St Helens and the Wigan Warriors.
Liam Byrne is facing a tribunal tonight after his controversial red card for head contact on Mark Percival even though it could be argued that there were mitigating factors such as the height of Percival in the collision.
Meanwhile, Tyler Dupree has been given a one match ban though not for his yellow card offence which was shown due to a raised elbow. The Match Review Panel deemed he had no case to answer.
As for St Helens, they have lost Matty Lees to a two match for Head Contact. He will miss the games against Warrington Wolves in the Challenge Cup quarter-final but crucially as well the top of the table clash with Catalans Dragons on Saturday.
Both St Helens and the Dragons go into the game level on 10 points and with five wins from their opening six games.
So, both games that Leeds is set to miss are crucial but St Helens could still elect to challenge the suspension on Tuesday night at the Operational Rules Tribunal.
Will St Helens choose to challenge suspension?
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St Helens have made a statement on the suspension as they always do. The former Super League Champions took to their website to make the statement which on the face of it would suggest that they have elected to not appeal the charge.
That being said, the Saints and other clubs have issued these kinds of statements prior to electing to appeal anyway so time will tell.
They have till midday to decide. The statement reads:
“St Helens’ Matty Lees has been issued a two-match penalty notice by the Rugby Football League’s Match Review Panel following last Friday’s Betfred Super League Round 6 match against the Wigan Warriors.
“The Saints forward was charged with a Grade C ‘Head Contact’ offence.
“Due to the suspension, Lees will not be available for selection for this Saturday’s away fixture against Catalans Dragons (6th April), or our Challenge Cup quarter-final home fixture against the Warrington Wolves (14th April)
“The full Match Review Panel minutes for the Sixth Round of Betfred Super League action can be viewed on The RFL’s website.”