Workington Town and head coach Jonty Gorley have accepted sanctions following breaches of the RFL Operational Rules relating to their conduct towards the match doctor during and after the Betfred Championship fixture against Midlands Hurricanes at Avery Fields on 9 August 2026.
The matter followed the doctor’s decision to remove Workington player Tana Featherstone from the field after he was judged to have displayed Category 1 concussion symptoms. Workington and Gorley accepted that their conduct towards the doctor fell below the standards expected, both during the match and, in Gorley’s case, in a post-match interview.
Workington have been fined £2,000, suspended until the end of the 2028 season. Gorley’s previous suspended two-match touchline suspension and suspended £500 fine have been activated. He has also received an additional £1,000 fine and a four-match stadium suspension, both suspended until the end of the 2028 season.
Ryan Carr has been fined £3,000, with £1,500 suspended until the end of the 2028 season, following an incident when he was head coach at Castleford Tigers and during the Betfred Super League fixture against Leeds Rhinos on 19 July 2026.
Carr, who left the club in August due to personal reasons, was heard on the Sky Sports broadcast directing an abusive accusation at the referee. Although the comment was not intended to be heard outside the Club’s staff, it was picked up during the broadcast and prompted an on-air apology.
The RFL found Carr in breach of Operational Rules D1.1(b), C2:6 and C2:10, covering improper conduct, adherence to RFL policies and the behaviour standards expected of senior personnel. The sanction also reflects that this was not his first breach of the Operational Rules during the season.
