Following the latest round of Betfred Super League fixtures, the Match Review Panel have issued the following sanctions:
Joe Westerman (Castleford) – Grade A Dangerous Contact – Crusher – 0 Match Penalty Notice
James Bentley (Leeds) – Grade B High Tackle – Reckless – 2 Match Penalty Notice
Kallum Watkins (Salford) – Grade A Late Hit on Passer – 0 Match Penalty Notice
Maxime Puech (Catalans) – Grade B Late Hit on Passer – 0 Match Penalty Notice
Curtis Sironen (St Helens) – Grade B Late Hit on Passer – 2 Match Penalty Notice
Luke Gale (Hull FC) – Grade B Trip – reactionary or reckless – 2 Match Penalty Notice
The following players were handed cautions:
Kelepi Tanganoa (Wakefield) – Late Hit on Passer
Alrix Da Costa (Catalans) – Late Hit on Passer
King Vuniyayawa (Salford) – Other Contrary Behaviour
Interestingly, Westerman wasn’t banned for the crusher tackle, with the Disciplinary Match Review Panel stating: “Law 15.1(i) Dangerous Contact Defending player, in or after effecting a tackle, uses any part of their body forcefully to apply pressure to the head and/or neck and/or spinal column of the tackled player so as to keep the tackled player at a disadvantage in or after the tackle. Grade A.”
The crusher tackle has been an object of controversy in recent days with Wigan Warriors’ Sam Powell charged with a Grade E which could carry a four to eight match ban if the hooker is found guilty.
