Super League: Widnes forward Magraff Leuluai cleared of foul play

Widnes forward Magraff Leuluai has been cleared of any foul play in the incident that resulted in Warrington full-back Matty Russell’s facial injuries.

Russell was knocked unconscious after spilling a high ball and colliding with Leuluai during the Wolves' 22-19 Super League elimination playoff victory on Saturday.

Leuluai was not penalised for the incident at the time and the Rugby Football League's match-review panel have ruled that the player has no case to answer.

The panel's ruling was that the "player makes a legitimate attempt to tackle and makes contact direct to the head of opponent, however opponent is dipping while trying to re-gather ball".

The match was held up for 10 minutes so that Russell could be treated on the pitch and he was taken straight to hospital amid fears of a serious injury.

However, the 21-year-old Scotland international allayed those fears on Twitter on Saturday night and, on Monday, Warrington announced that the scan results showed there was no fracture to the jaw or skull.

Russell has had two front teeth removed and will be forced to miss his club's preliminary semi-final at Castleford on Thursday, when Warrington coach Tony Smith is expected to switch the versatile Stefan Ratchford to full-back.

Catalan Dragons will be at full strength for their preliminary semi-final at Huddersfield on Friday after centre Vincent Duport and forward Louis Anderson were cleared of any wrongdoing during their side's 24-20 win at Leeds.

Both players were penalised for late tackles on Leeds skipper Kevin Sinfield and Rhinos coach Brian McDermott argued that foul play was involved.

However, the match-review panel ruled that Duport was making a legitimate attempt to make the tackle and that, although Anderson used an illegal shoulder charge, the penalty was sufficient punishment.