Wigan's Josh Charnley and Taulima Tautai charged by RFL's match review panel
Monday 18 July 2016 20:53, UK
Wigan could be without winger Josh Charnley and forward Taulima Tautai for their Ladbrokes Challenge Cup semi-final with Hull FC after both players were charged over incidents during the defeat at Leeds.
Charnley has been accused of making deliberate physical contact with a match official, a grade C offence that normally carries a ban for two to three matches.
The Sale-bound former England international was seen grabbing the shoulder of match referee Robert Hicks to catch his attention while protesting a decision to deny him a try.
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Tautai has been charged with making dangerous contact on Leeds forward Adam Cuthbertson, a grade B offence which carries a suspension of one or two matches.
The former Wakefield back rower is accused of attacking the legs of Cuthbertson as he was being held in a two-man tackle and in a vulnerable position.
Tautai was not penalised for the offence but the tackle incensed the Leeds players and Rhinos coach Brian McDermott called in the post-match press conference for the move to be outlawed, claiming it would lead to a leg break if left unchecked.
The Wigan duo were charged by the Rugby Football League's match review panel, which also issued a warning to Warriors hooker Sam Powell for making dangerous contact on Leeds prop Keith Galloway in the same match.
Neither Charnley nor Tautai has the option of taking an early guilty plea and so will appear in front of an RFL disciplinary tribunal on Tuesday.
Wigan play St Helens in the final round of the regular season before the split for the Super 8s on Friday and meet Hull a week later for a place at Wembley.
Meanwhile, Castleford centre Ben Crooks has been charged with a grade A dangerous tackle on Stefan Ratchford during his side's 42-26 defeat by Warrington.
And Wakefield hooker Scott Moore, who has already served two suspensions this season, is facing a grade A charge of a high tackle on Morgan Escare in the Wildcats' 30-28 win over Catalans Dragons.
