Leeds Rhinos' Brad Singleton facing lengthy ban for elbowing Catalans Dragons' Greg Bird
Tuesday 14 March 2017 09:54, UK
Leeds Rhinos forward Brad Singleton could be banned for up to eight matches after being charged with elbowing an opponent.
Singleton was placed on report by referee James Child for a tackle on Catalans Dragons loose forward Greg Bird 10 minutes into the Rhinos' 46-10 win over the French club in their Betfred Super League match at Headingley.
Catalans coach Laurent Frayssinous claimed in the post-match press conference that Singleton should have been sent off for the challenge on Bird, who needed seven stitches in a wound at the back of his head.
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Bird stayed on the field and subsequently broke a thumb which will rule him out for four to six weeks.
Singleton was charged by the Rugby Football League's match review panel with a grade E offence, which carries a ban of between four and eight matches, and will face a disciplinary hearing in Leeds on Tuesday.
The Rhinos prop is one of seven players charged with offences from the weekend's matches.
Hull utility player Jansin Turgut is also accused of using his elbow in the tackle but is facing a lower grade C charge and has the option of an early-guilty plea which could result in a two-match ban.
Turgut was sin-binned for the challenge on prop Alex Walmsley during Hull's 24-14 win over St Helens.
Walmsley himself has been charged with a minor grade A offence of striking with his knees in that match. Referee Phil Bentham awarded an eight-point try after ruling that Carlos Tuimavave was fouled by Walmsley in the act of scoring.
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Salford prop Lama Tasi was charged with a grade B dangerous throw on Anthony England which earned him a spell in the sin-bin during his side's 24-22 defeat at Wakefield while Widnes half-back Danny Craven has become the latest player to be charged with making contact with a referee.
Craven is facing a grade A charge following the incident in his side's 34-0 defeat by Castleford and, with the option of an early-guilty plea, can avoid suspension.
Gareth Hock of Leigh Centurions and Sebastine Ikahihifo of Huddersfield will also avoid any ban if they plead guilty to grade A offences of punching during their match at Leigh Sports Village while Hull half-back Albert Kelly was given a caution for striking with his knee.
