St Helens star cited by Match Review Panel but not for yellow card offence

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

Matty Lees’ caution is curious because it is not for sin bin offence against the Leigh Leopards at the weekend in what was a crucial moment.

It highlights a key decision in their defeat that was seen as very harsh by some.

The yellow card itself was highlighted in the minutes but no further action was taken.

This is what they had to safe:

“Player makes initial contact with the back and rides up into the neck.”

“At the end, discipline again lets us down because there were a number of incidents and if we don’t learn and learn quick we will find ourselves in the same predicament moving forward,” Saints boss Paul Wellens said on Saints TV.

“The Lees yellow card was a big moment in the game. Leesy is disappointed, as you would expect.