Hull KR's Jai Whitbread receives punishment after sin-bin controversy at Wigan
Hull Kingston Rovers forward Jai Whitbread has received a one-match penalty notice after a Grade C charge for his head contact on Wigan Warriors' Tyler Dupree and will miss Friday night's crucial game away at Leigh Leopards.
Whitbread's sin-binning in the second half of Hull KR's 24-20 defeat at Wigan on Friday night was controversial as Dupree staying down led to the punishment for the high shot. It was Rovers' second sin-binning of the night after Joe Burgess had received a yellow card for laying on.
Hull KR coach Willie Peters had said after the incident that it would have been play on rather than a yellow if Dupree had not stayed down. When asked about the yellow cards, Wigan coach Matt Peet said that the second one, shown to Whitbread, was "just in keeping with what we've been seeing, week in week".
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Rovers are seeking points with the aim of a home play-off semi, when they take on Leigh, who had faced the possibility of John Asiata missing the game after his yellow but he is free to play. That incident took place as Asiata - who only recently returned from suspension - caught Castleford Tigers' Joe Westerman off the ball and received a yellow card for the late hit.
Leigh have had the second-highest number of yellow cards this season, on 18, with the only worse team being Hull FC on 19.
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