Wigan Warriors and Wakefield Trinity decide not to appeal bans from Challenge Cup quarter-final
Wigan Warriors and Wakefield Trinity have decided against appealing the bans issued to Harry Smith, Sam Walters and Jazz Tevaga following Sunday’s Challenge Cup quarter-final.
Wigan duo Smith and Walters received Grade E charges following their 26-22 win over Wakefield at the DIY Kitchens Stadium on Sunday afternoon, with both players being handed 18 penalty points each, meaning they both copped three-match suspensions.
Halfback Smith was charged with contact with a player who is/may be injured following an incident involving Wakefield forward Tevaga, who kicked out after a tackle on Warriors winger Liam Marshall, for which he was sin-binned and then was dealt a two-match ban, which resulted in Smith reacting in the heat of the moment and confronting Tevaga.
Meanwhile, versatile forward Walters has been charged for a headbutt after a coming together with Wakefield man Jay Pitts. The incident was not penalised at the time, but was pinged by the match review panel when they convened to review the weekend’s Challenge Cup action on Monday morning.
Wigan had the right to appeal the panel’s verdicts on the charges, but the club have opted against doing so, thus accepting the bans.
As a result, Smith and Walters will now miss Wigan’s next three games against Castleford Tigers, Warrington Wolves and Bradford Bulls. They will be available to return to action in the Challenge Cup semi-final against St Helens in Warrington on May 9.
The suspensions are major blows for the Warriors, who are already without star man Bevan French, who is still a couple of months away from returning, while centre Jake Wardle and winger Abbas Miski remain sidelined.
In more positive news for Matt Peet’s side, prop Ethan Havard is set to return for Sunday’s clash with Castleford Tigers at the Brick Community Stadium.
Elsewhere, Wakefield have decided against appealing the charge given to Tevaga, who copped a two-match ban from the match review panel for striking Marshall with his boot in the first half of Sunday’s Challenge Cup quarter-final. As a result, Tevaga will miss Trinity’s next two matches against Bradford and St Helens. The Samoa international will be available to return when they face Leeds Rhinos on May 1.