Tuesday 5 June 2018 21:31, UK
Huddersfield half-back Danny Brough has seen his punishment for a dangerous tackle increased due to "an unreasonable challenge".
The veteran playmaker was given a two-match penalty notice for a "crusher" tackle on forward Kenny Edwards in the Giants' 20-6 Challenge Cup quarter-final defeat by Catalans Dragons.
New head coach Simon Woolford claimed a sin-binning was harsh punishment for the incident and the club opted to fight the grade B charge brought by the Rugby Football League's match review panel.
However, Huddersfield's appeal failed and, to make matters worse, he will now sit out the next three games.
A statement from the RFL said: "The panel found the player guilty and added an additional game to the suspension due to what they felt was an unreasonable challenge of the charge."
The outcome prompted a critical response from Giants' first-team coach Chris Thorman, who tweeted: "An extra game given for challenging. We seriously need to change the rules, this game is not what it used to."
Brough, who was also fined £500 and ordered to forfeit a £500 bond, will miss Friday's Super League game at Leeds as well as the crucial clashes with bottom-four rivals Catalans and Hull KR.
His absence will give another opportunity to academy half-back Oliver Russell, who made his Super League debut in May.