Following Hull FC and Leigh Leopards’ appeals, the RFL Match Review Panel have made their final decisions on Jack Ashworth and John Asiata’s fates in the latest twist in Super League disciplinary.
Jack Ashworth was handed a controversial three-match ban for accidental contact with the head of Chris Satae.
Despite only receiving a yellow card at the time, he was handed a Grade D charge and banned for three games, becoming the sixth Hull FC player to receive a ban already.
Meanwhile, Serious About Rugby League confirmed earlier Leigh Leopards have also made a belated appeal on John Asiata’s charge last week for a low tackle which was deemed as dangerous by Super League disciplinary.
Super League disciplinary verdicts revealed
The independent Operational Rules Tribunal has made the following decision following an incident in Round Four from the Betfred Super League in the latest twist in Super League disciplinary.
Jack Ashworth of Hull FC has pleaded guilty, but challenged the grading of his Head Contact charge. The challenge was successful and the charge has been downgraded to Grade C. Therefore, he will serve a two-match suspension with a £250 fine.
Smart verdict from the match review panel
This verdict on Jack Ashworth is a fantastic one to see from all in the competition from a Super League disciplinary point of view.
It shows that these harsh bans can be challenged and the decisions from the match review panel can be overturned when it makes sense to do so.
It also makes sense to not totally over turn the suspension completely given the world we live in and the way the sport has to deal with head injuries.
After all, opponent Chris Satae had to go off with a head injury after the incident which shows that though accidental it did cause the kind of impact the sport is trying to avoid.
