Hull FC skipper Gareth Ellis may miss Wigan clash through suspension
Monday 4 September 2017 19:58, UK
Hull FC could be without skipper Gareth Ellis for their crucial Super 8s clash with Wigan after he was charged with making a dangerous tackle.
The veteran back-row forward, who is retiring at the end of the season, has been accused by the RFL's match review panel of using a "crusher" tackle on Leeds forward Stevie Ward's neck during his side's 38-26 Super League defeat to the Rhinos last Thursday.
Live Super League Super 8s
Ellis, who was sin-binned for the offence, is facing a grade B charge, which carries a ban of one or two matches.
He is eligible for an early-guilty plea, which would result in a one-match ban, ruling him out of Friday's game at the KCOM Stadium between the sides that contested the Challenge Cup final last weekend.
Third-placed Hull will greatly boost their chances of making the play-off semi-finals with victory over the fifth-placed Warriors, but they could also be without winger Steve Michaels after he was charged with a grade B striking offence in the same game.
Leeds scrum-half Rob Burrow is also facing a grade B charge of head-butting Hull substitute Jake Connor and must decide whether to submit an early-guilty plea or face a disciplinary hearing.
Catalans Dragons loose forward Greg Bird must face a hearing in Leeds on Tuesday after being charged with a grade D offence of a dangerous throw during his side's 24-0 win over Halifax in the Qualifiers.
Halifax half-back Ben Johnson, Leigh stand-off Ben Reynolds and Widnes' Danny Walker have all been charged with tripping offences while the match review panel issued cautions to Micky Higham (Leigh), Ryan Atkins (Warrington) and Thomas Leuluai (Wigan).
Watch Hull FC v Wigan Warriors on Friday. Coverage begins on Sky Sports Arena at 7:30pm.
