Leeds Rhinos prop Brad Singleton given six-game ban for elbowing Catalans Dragons' Greg Bird
Tuesday 14 March 2017 20:17, UK
Leeds Rhinos forward Brad Singleton has been handed a six-match ban and a £300 fine for striking an opponent with his elbow.
Singleton was placed on report by referee James Child for the tackle on Catalans Dragons loose forward Greg Bird 10 minutes into the Rhinos' 46-10 win over the French club, in their round four Betfred Super League match at Headingley on Friday.
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, to which he pleaded guilty when he appeared in front of a disciplinary hearing in Leeds on Tuesday.
He will start his ban when Leeds host Wakefield on Friday.
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.
Bird stayed on the field and subsequently broke a thumb, which will rule him out for four to six weeks.
Hull utility player Jansin Turgut was given a two-match ban and a £300 fine after pleading guilty to a grade C offence of striking with an elbow or forearm. He was sin-binned for the challenge during his side's 24-14 win over St Helens.
Leigh's former England forward Gareth Hock was handed a £300 fine but avoided a ban for a grade A punching offence, while Salford prop Lama Tasi will miss Sunday's home game against leaders Castleford after admitting a dangerous throw on Wakefield front-rower Anthony England.
Tasi, who was sin-binned for the offence during his side's 24-22 defeat by Trinity, was given a one-game ban for the grade B foul.
Elsewhere, Danny Craven of Widnes, Alex Walmsley of St Helens and Sebastine Ikahihifo of Huddersfield avoided suspension after submitting early-guilty pleas to grade A offences.
