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Disciplinary

13 Jul 2021

Disciplinary | Tribunal

Disciplinary | Tribunal

Sione Matautia of St Helens has successfully challenged the grading of one of the one-match suspensions imposed on him by this week’s Match Review Panel, but will still have to serve the one-match ban for the second, ruling him out of Saturday’s Betfred Challenge Cup Final against St Helens.

Matautia pleaded guilty to both offences but challenged the gradings, which followed separate incidents in last Friday’s Betfred Super League game at Wakefield Trinity.

For the first, a charge of Grade B dangerous contact, the Operational Rules Tribunal downgraded the offence to Grade A, meaning the one-match suspension was removed, with the £500 fine remaining.

For the second, a charge of Grade B high tackle, the grading was found to be correct so the one-match ban and the £500 fine stand.

The ORT also rejected a challenge from James Maloney of Catalans Dragons against a two-match ban for Grade B dangerous contact in their fixture at Leeds Rhinos.

The one-match bans on Wakefield’s Ryan Hampshire and Wigan’s Jackson Hastings were also upheld.

Both had pleaded guilty, to charges of Grade B dangerous contact and Grade A other contrary behaviour respectively, but contested the grading.

In each case the grading, and therefore the recommended suspension, was found to be correct.