Why Wigan Warriors star escaped ban despite yellow card

The first round of the new season in the Super League has been completed, and the Match Review Panel has released its disciplinary report. Fans are particularly interested in how Wigan Warriors fared ahead of the World Club Challenge. The new rules regarding head contact were in focus during the first six matches of the season, making the Super League disciplinary a hot topic.

The opening game between Hull FC and Hull KR saw the Black and Whites lose Herman Ese’ese to a yellow card, marking the first instance of the new rules reducing a side to 12 men. Franklin Pele was then sent off for a swinging arm that would have arguably yielded a red card in any era.

In another match, Ligi Sao was sent off for direct contact with the head, while Matt Parcell was sin-binned and could have also faced disciplinary action. Salford Red Devils’ Ryan Brierley was sin-binned for a high tackle, while Leeds Rhinos’ Paul Momirovski could have also faced disciplinary action for a shoulder charge.

The biggest talking point was Liam Watts’ sending off under the new rules for Castleford Tigers, while Wigan Warriors’ Kaide Ellis and Harry Smith escaped that fate. Michael McIlorum of Catalans Dragons was not so lucky.

The burning question now is, who has been punished this week by the Match Review Panel?

16 players were charged including three players who are set to face a tribunal including Liam Watts after the clash with Wigan Warriors.

Wigan Warriors star avoids ban

The burning question among Wigan Warriors fans was whether or not star man Harry Smith would pick up a ban for his tip tackle.

He has avoided a ban however with the RFL explaining: “The Wigan Warriors scrum half Harry Smith will be available to play in that game after the dangerous throw/lift charge for which he was sin-binned at Castleford on Saturday was graded as B. This was because the unnatural actions of the tackled player significantly contributed to the outcome of the tackle.”