Super League players to serve bans through loophole as one misses out on international

Three Catalans Dragons players have been charged by the match review panel after their win against Huddersfield Giants, and it has big ramifications for one.

Ex-England hooker Michael McIlorum, Franck Maria, and Arthur Romano have all copped Grade B dangerous contact charges. Maria has escaped with a £250 fine, but McIlorum and Romano both receive one-match penalty notices due to their challenges being the higher end of sanction. It means Romano is out of contention to represent France in Saturday’s Test against England unless he launches an appeal and wins.

Huddersfield winger Eliott Wallis has received a one match penalty notice for a Grade C dangerous contact, while London’s Emanuel Waine was hit with the same. St Helens’ Sione Mata’utia has also picked up a one match penalty notice for a Grade B head contact from yesterday’s loss at Salford.

However, all three players are unlikely to miss any Super League action as, with the international break, their bans can be served through reserve grade action this weekend.

Leigh’s Lachlan Lam was also charged with a Grade B dangerous contact but escaped a ban and was instead handed a £250 fine.