Wigan Warriors boss delivers verdict on duo’s suspensions as Sam Walters ‘regrets’ Wembley tackle

Wigan Warriors forward Sam Walters is regretful over the tackle that resulted in a seven-match suspension following the club’s Challenge Cup final victory, according to head coach Matt Peet.

Walters was one of Wigan’s standout forwards in Saturday’s 40-10 triumph over Hull KR at Wembley, but his afternoon ended on a sour note when he was sent off in the closing stages for a dangerous tackle on Robins hooker Bill Leyland.

The 25-year-old was handed a seven-match ban by the Rugby Football League’s Match Review Panel on Monday after being charged with a Grade F ‘dangerous throw/lift’ offence. Walters received 35 penalty points for the incident, taking his total to 39.5 points over the last 12 months and triggering a lengthy suspension, along with a fine.

Halfback Harry Smith will also miss Saturday’s Super League trip to Catalans Dragons after receiving a one-match ban.

Smith was charged with a Grade B head contact offence following a high tackle on Hull KR winger Tom Davies during the first half at Wembley. The charge carried three penalty points, taking his 12-month total to 7.5 and pushing him beyond the six-point threshold for a one-match suspension.

“I’ve spoken to the pair of them - very different scenarios, I think,” Peet said in his weekly press conference.

“Sam regrets that tackle - it didn’t look good. I’m just glad that Bill got up the way he did, fair play to him for that, and I’m glad he’s okay. It just went all wrong, so we’ve got to accept that ban.

“With Harry, it is a little bit different. He gets that tackle wrong, but he is being punished for what happened against Wakefield (with the accumulation of points), which is unfortunate, but we move on.”

Walters will now sit out upcoming fixtures against Catalans Dragons, Wakefield Trinity, York Knights, Hull FC, St Helens, Warrington Wolves and Huddersfield Giants. He is next eligible to play on July 24 when Wigan host St Helens at The Brick Community Stadium.

Club captain Liam Farrell echoed Peet’s assessment of the incident when speaking to the media ahead of Wigan’s historic trip to Paris.

“I think we all know Sam didn’t go into the tackle wanting to hurt him in any way, but he has to serve his ban,” Farrell said. “We don’t want to see tackles like that in the game, and it is what it is.

“I think everyone in the team knew it wasn’t what he wanted to do. He’s not a malicious player - he doesn’t go out there to try to hurt people intentionally.

“I think he’s just ended up putting Bill Leyland in a difficult position and has not been able to back out of it. Sam apologised to him straight away, but Sam knows he will rightly have to serve the ban.”

Given the tackle on Leyland involved two Wigan players - Walters and Junior Nsemba - some had questioned why the latter had avoided a charge for his part in the tackle. It is understood that the reasoning behind only Walters being charged is that it was he who instigated the tackle in the first place, with the tackle being deemed ‘dangerous’ by the Match Review Panel.

That was a view that was ultimately given by the referee, Liam Moore, on the field at the time, and was supported by the RFL’s disciplinary process on Monday. In effect, that tackle would have still been dangerous in nature - even if Nsemba had decided not to get involved. So per the regulations, it was Walters who received the charge and seven-match ban.

Following their Challenge Cup triumph, the Warriors will now turn their attention back on Super League matters - with Peet’s side facing Catalans Dragons at the Stade Jean-Bouin in Paris on Saturday evening.