Why star player could avoid serving full ban in Super League

Yesterday the RFL revealed the results from the Match Review Panel.

A huge 16 players were charged after Round Nine of Super League.

These include four from Hull KR vs St Helens and a huge six from Wakefield Trinity’s defeat to Leigh Leopards.

Of the 16 Warrington Wolves star Paul Vaughan has been hit with a one match ban.

Meanwhile, Liam Hood has been hit with two one-match bans in a huge blow for Wakefield.

11 £250 fines have been handed out whilst three players, Ethan Havard of Wigan Warriors, Matty Lees of St Helens and Jez Litten of Hull KR, are charged but receive no punishment.

Leeds Rhinos star Sam Lisone has been cautioned as has Matty Costello of Salford Red Devils.

It is the second week in a row where there has been 17 charges but this time no one is sent to a tribunal.

It is the highest number of individuals charged in one round but the three bans is far lower than we have seen from other rounds especially considering they were shared by just two players.

So with 14 players charged but not banned and two more only cautioned with three charged and not punished, the question has to be asked why were Vaughan and Hood banned.

Well the minutes explain Vaughan’s ban:

“Dangerous Contact – Defender uses any part of their body forcefully to twist, bend or otherwise apply pressure to the limb or limbs of an opposing player in a way that involves an unacceptable risk of injury to that player.”

As for Hood, the minutes say of both of his offences:

“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.”

Hood may have a two match ban but he may only have to serve one game in Super League.

This is because after Round 10 Super League takes a break with England playing France.

That week, Wakefield Trinity’s reserves play Wigan Warriors meaning Hood will likely be able to serve one of his games then.