Why St Helens and Leeds Rhinos stars Konrad Hurrell and Zane Tetevano have been given surprise bans

Following the latest round of Betfred Super League fixtures, the Match Review Panel have issued the following sanctions:

Zane Tetevano (Leeds) – Grade B Late Hit on Passer – 2 Match Penalty Notice
Brad Fash (Hull FC) – Grade E Biting – Refer to Tribunal
Lucas Albert (Catalans) – Grade C Dangerous Contact – Crocodile – 2 Match Penalty Notice
Joe Chan (Catalans) – Grade C Dangerous Throw – 2 Match Penalty Notice
Konrad Hurrell (St Helens) – Grade B Dangerous Contact – Crusher – 2 Match Penalty Notice
Sam Powell (Wigan) – Grade E Dangerous Contact – Crusher – Refer to Tribunal

None of the above penalty notices will take effect until midnight on Wednesday, which means each player is eligible for the Betfred Super League fixtures taking place on Easter Monday.

The Operational Rules Tribunal meets on Wednesday 20April, and will consider cases from Hull FC’s Brad Fash, Wigan’s Sam Powell and anyone else who should choose to appeal – in addition to cases from Monday’s fixtures, which will be considered by the Match Review Panel on Tuesday 19 April.

But, the bans to Zane Tetevano and Konrad Hurrell came as some surprise with neither incident cited during the game.

The disciplinary minutes have now been revealed as to why both were handed suspensions.

Tetevano’s incident states: “Law 15.1(i) – Dangerous Contact A defending player makes contact with an opponent after the ball has been released by an opponent in a vulnerable position which causes flexion to the head, neck or spinal column on an attacking player, which poses an unacceptable risk of injury to that player. Grade B.

Hurrell, meanwhile, was cited for a crusher tackle: “Dangerous Contact Defending player, in or after effecting a tackle, uses any part of their body forcefully to bend or apply unnecessary 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 B.”