Wigan Warriors landed their 21st Challenge Cup Final win on Saturday with Warrington Wolves losing at Wembley once again but both teams will now have their eyes back on Super League matters, especially Super League disciplinary matters given how Saturday played out.
Chris Kendall flashed a yellow card at Wembley for a second successive year, following up on his controversial decision to sin bin Elliot Minchella in 2023 with the even more controversial decisions to sin bin both Mike Cooper and Matt Dufty. Even more incredible was the fact that the pair were sent to the sin bin within the first three minutes of the game.
Whilst it could be argued that the cards set the tone for a scrappy and poor final in terms of quality, they didn’t affect the outcome which is the most important factor with Wigan Warriors simply too good. Perhaps you could argue that Wigan didn’t need to be good given how Warrington played, but Matt Peet’s side were certainly deserving winners.
Despite going two points behind early on, Wigan would eventually run out as 18-8 victors with Matt Dufty’s second-half try sparking hope of a comeback but ultimately being a consolation. Dufty will now be one of those awaiting the Super League disciplinary news and Match Review Panel’s verdict following his sin bin offence.
Challenge Cup Quiz: Can you get these 20 questions correct?
Super League Disciplinary issues consume Challenge Cup Final
Credit: Imago Images
Heading into the Challenge Cup Final all the talk was surrounding the Super League disciplinary process with both Adam Keighran and Tyer Dupree banned last week, each for three matches, for their Grade D charges sustained against Warrington in Super League.
Keighran’s high shot on Aaron Lindop and Dupree’s headbutt on Sam Powell were the only Super League disciplinary matters worthy of bans last week but they were devastating nonetheless with both Keighran and Dupree costing themselves the opportunity to play in a first Challenge Cup Final.
Both men will serve a further two games in bans but they could be joined by Mike Cooper who saw yellow within two minutes of the whistle blowing on Saturday. Chris Kendall explained to the veteran forward that there was mitigation but significant force in his shot on Josh Thewlis, with Cooper’s arm and elbow colliding with the Wire wingers’ dipping head.
It was a yellow card that caused outrage and that anger was increased just a minute later when Matt Dufty was marched for ten for a high shot, another decision that caused upset among fans and pundits.
Will Matt Dufty and Mike Cooper be banned?
Credit: Imago Images
The yellow card offences for Dufty and Cooper were among the only boiling-point moments in the game and will certainly be looked at by the Super League disciplinary process, but the decisions were highly criticised at the time.
On commentary, dual-code legend Jonathan Davies slammed Kendall arguing: “You can’t do tit-for-tat. Just because one is yellow the other one might not be yellow, but clearly because of the first decision he (Kendall) is going to do the same (show Dufty a yellow card).
“They’re both wrong for me. There’s no foul play intended. He’s slipped up above there. Hasn’t hit him in the head. He’s gone over his head. Keep both players on the field.
“For me it’s two penalties, if that, and play on.”
Brian Noble added: “Both decisions are wrong. We have got to keep players on the field.”
With those verdicts in mind, it’s an interesting wait to see what the Match Review Panel determines with the Super League disciplinary saga once again taking centre stage.
