Star winger to serve mammoth ban following tribunal

Yesterday Leeds Rhinos, Hull FC, Hull KR and Leigh Leopards stars landed in hot water with the match review panel.

A huge 16 charges were handed out including a ban to Catalans Dragons hooker Michael McIlorum.

The hooker though had his ban overturned by the operational rules tribunal.

However this was not the case in the second appeal of the night with Bradford Bulls failing to appeal Jorge Taufua’s mammoth six game ban which means he will serve the full ban which will take up the majority of his season.

Taufua was charged with a Grade F offence of biting.

The initial tribunal was postponed to last Monday.

The grading was reduced to a grade E and he was given a six match ban.

The club were vocal about their displeasure at this and have thus elected to appeal the ban.

This appeal too place tonight.

CEO Jason Hirst has provided the following short statement:

“With regard to Jorge Taufua’s recent six match ban, the player and club will attend an appeal hearing on Tuesday 22nd August. The club will not be making any further comment until after the hearing.”

The Bulls were unsuccessful at a recent tribunal.

Referee Cameron Worsley submitted evidence explaining how the incident unfolded with the referee report stating as follows:

“In approximately the 33rd minute of the game, Bradford Bulls were in possession of the ball coming away from their goal line approximately 15m out. More specifically, Jorge Taufua (Bradford Bulls – Number 28) was in possession of the ball and carried the ball into several Barrow Raiders tacklers, one which was Jarrod Stack (Barrow Raiders – Number 12).

“As Taufua was being tackled, I saw the arm of Stack around the neck/lower face area of Taufua, I then saw from my angle a clear bite by Taufua to the arm/wrist area of Stack, this caused Stack to react instantly.