Wigan Warriors handed double ban for Challenge Cup Final

Wigan Warriors have had the bad news confirmed that two of their first-team players will be banned for the Challenge Cup Final against Warrington Wolves on Saturday.

The Cherry and Whites faced Warrington on Saturday in Super League and the two coaches went for different approaches with Sam Burgess rotating heavily and fielding four debutants, whilst Wigan went relatively full strength.

That’s something that Matt Peet will now be rueing though after both Adam Keighran and Tyler Dupree have been handed Grade D charges that carry three-game bans and a £250 fine each.

Keighran was widely expected to be banned after he was sent off for a high shot on Arron Lindop whereas Dupree head-butted Sam Powell whilst on the floor at the play the ball.

Both men are now set to miss Saturday’s Challenge Cup Final, although Wigan Warriors do have the right to an appeal, something that they will likely take up with an Operational Rules Tribunal slated for tomorrow night already.

Quiz: Can you name all these former Wigan Warriors players?

Wigan Warriors cop double ban

Losing just one player to suspension ahead of a Challenge Cup Final would be devastating but to lose two key members is brutal, however, that’s the price that Wigan Warriors have paid in order to earn their Super League win.

Sam Burgess will likely be the happier of the two coaches now despite the one-point loss knowing that the challenge at Wembley has just got marginally easier and his players are also well-rested.

The official charges for the Wigan Warriors pair are both Grade D with Dupree cited for a head butt and Keighran for head contact, both charges carrying the same three-game ban and £250 fine.

Brad O’Neill was also charged but escaped with just a fine as he was handed a Grade A charge for making late contact on the passer, the hooker hammering Josh Drinkwater early in the first half.

Warrington escaped without a single charge with Wigan Warriors actually being the only Super League side to be handed any bans at all.

There was however a ban for Matty Marsh, the Sheffield Eagles player, who was handed a two-game ban and a £125 fine for a dangerous throw/lift. His case will be appealed at the Operational Rules Tribunal tomorrow should he appeal, as would the Wigan Warriors duo of Keighran and Dupree.