Everyone in rugby league by now will have known that St Helens star Morgan Knowles has been handed a two-match ban by the Disciplinary Match Review Panel.
Knowles was charged with a Grade B Dangerous Contact after an alleged chicken wing on Salford Red Devils playmaker Chris Atkin.
That move prompted a yellow card from referee Chris Kendall, but the punishment hasn’t ended there with Knowles now set to miss the Grand Final clash against the Leeds Rhinos on Saturday evening.
However, Saints are determined to appeal the charge with Knowles’ case being heard tonight between 4.30pm and 6.30pm at the Operations Rules Tribunal.
In the past, appealing a charge has not gone down too well for some players including Leeds Rhinos pair Rhyse Martin and Harry Newman whom both had their bans increased due to the ‘frivolous’ nature of the appeal.
Saints – and England – will be hoping that Knowles’ appeal does not follow suit as it would not only rule the forward out of the Grand Final but also some World Cup games at the end of the year.
That’s because bans from the Super League season are carried over into international games, meaning Knowles could be absent for England’s opening World Cup group game against Samoa at St James’ Park, Newcastle.
