Yesterday, Hull FC saw yet another player harshly suspended as they are hit hardest in the controversial Super League disciplinary saga at the start of this year.
Super League disciplinary has been a major talking point to start the season but you have to credit the RFL for the changes officials and the match review panel have made in recent weeks.
There are less cards, less bans and less controversy which is fantastic to see from a Super League disciplinary point of view but yesterday Hull FC star Jack Ashworth was handed a harsh three match ban for accidental head on head contact.
According to reports in the Hull Daily Mail, the club will be appealing the decision.
In a surprise twist, Serious About Rugby League can confirm 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.
After all the controversy last year and despite the fact the injured loose-forward wasn’t banned, Leigh are launching an appeal in the Super League disciplinary tribunal tonight.
Why Hull FC star was hit with a worse ban than St Helens in Super League disciplinary
Hull FC star Jack Ashworth was given a three match ban for the tackle on former Hull FC star Chris Satae by Super League disciplinary.
This was despite Mark Percival receiving a two game for a similar tackle after a similar tackle. So, why was punished more severely?
Well according to the RFL, the offence was at the “higher end of the charge” unlike the tackle from Mark Percival. Thus, Ashworth was hit with a harsher suspension.
He will now miss the game against Leigh Leopards this weekend and then the Challenge Cup clash which will be revealed tonight.
Harsh suspensions
At the end of the day both these bans to two top Super League stars and ironically teammates in the 2019 Super League Grand Final.
In times gone by, this kind of contact would have been viewed as completely accidental and not even yielded a penalty but this is no longer the case.
Jack Ashworth’s tackle was thunderous and full bloodied. It was the kind of challenge on a big man that would have been previously applauded.
Chris Satae was the victim and suffered a head injury which perhaps highlights the need for action but perhaps not a three match ban.
It is interesting and perhaps highlights the confusion of the new rules that Percival was given a red card and got two games whilst Hull FC star Jack Ashworth got three games for a yellow card.
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Leslie Teeling
March 12, 2024 at 2:52 pm
Just goes to show how a game can be influenced by people who have never played a game at the highest level Not one Salford player reacted to Percival,s challenge and the player had knocked on so the opportunity to create a scoring chance had gone The Referee looked out of his depth on a number of occasions and the players took advantage of his inability to control the game especially in open play sadly he is one of the panel