Huddersfield Giants lost their ill-tempered Super League clash against Salford Red Devils on Friday night. Salford received two yellow cards in the game. Ryan Brierley was sin-binned for a high shot just before halftime. Chris Atkin was also given 10 minutes for obstruction.
The Giants fell short of a huge comeback. They scored two tries in the last 10 minutes but ultimately lost by two points. However, the West Yorkshire side also played the last 20 minutes with 12 men. Winger, Elliot Wallis, received a red card for an alleged headbutt on Salford player, Tim Lafai.
Wallis was referred to the RFL Match Review Panel to review the incident. The panel has now reached a surprising decision.
No charge for winger
Credit: Imago Images
The Match Review Panel has decided that Wallis will receive no further action on his charge of headbutting Lafai.
The decision is explained in the official Match Review Panel minutes, which conclude that Wallis did not headbutt Lafai. The minutes state:
“Player does not headbutt opponent. Player moves in towards opponent with head but no butting motion.”
Wallis is one of five players charged by the RFL this week. However, for a second week in a row, no Super League players have received a suspension.
His initial send-off had caused plenty of uproar from fans with claims that the sport was becoming worse than football for diving and soft red cards.
Ian Watson also weighed in on the issue in his post-match presser.
The Giants boss said: “I’m going to leave that for some Match Review Panel to have a look at because I don’t think he’ll be getting anything from it.”
Asked how Wallis himself was left feeling, Watson added: “I just spoke with him, he’s actually just had a look at the incident with me in there. To say he’s upset at it or doesn’t think it’s the right call is fair, it’s there for everybody to see.”
“Sometimes we’re banging on that we want the video referee to input. In this one, he should have a clearer view because he’s got a lot more angles to look at, so you want him to play a part.
“I don’t know what he’s seen. I’ll agree that both heads come together but if that’s being classed as a headbutt I don’t know.”
Today’s Match Review Panel findings have since confirmed that there was no headbutt to be seen, just as Ian Watson suggested.
Boost for Giants ahead of upcoming Super League fixtures
Credit: Imago Images
Wallis avoiding punishment for his action is a major boost for the Giants. They face a run of difficult home fixtures in their playoff push.
Huddersfield welcome Warrington Wolves and the Wigan Warriors to the John Smiths Stadium. The Giants will play four consecutive home games in May. They round off the month with games against Leigh Leopards and Hull FC.
Back-to-back defeats, against St Helens and Salford, have left the Giants four points adrift in the race for sixth place. The Giants are now in eighth, two points behind Leeds Rhinos in seventh.
