Yahoo News Tony Smith explains why Hull FC will appeal Ligi Sao decision with club verdict made
Tony Smith has confirmed that Hull FC will challenge Ligi Sao's disciplinary verdict this Tuesday night. The Black and Whites forward was handed a three-match suspension from the RFL's Match Review Panel on Monday, having been sent off in last week's derby opener.
Sao received a Grade D Striking charge for an incident with Hull KR hooker Matt Parcell, who subsequently got a one-match ban for 'Other Contrary Behaviour.' However, the club, who also face an independent tribunal for Franklin Pele, will challenge Sao's ban, with Smith "hopeful" there is a strong enough case to get the outcome they desire.
Speaking in his pre-match press conference, Smith said: "We’ve got at least two who will be out with suspension—Franklin (via the tribunal) and Herman (already banned)—but we’re hopeful on Ligi. That goes to the hearing tonight.
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“The circumstances make us hopeful. I question what’s reasonable under the circumstances. Hopefully, we’ll get a fair hearing, and people will understand what some of the circumstances were and the situation that Ligi found himself in.
“I think most human beings would have reacted very similarly to Ligi under the circumstances he was under, all of which were in a timeframe of under two seconds. He felt very vulnerable. When you’re on your back and you feel like you’re unprotected, you've sometimes got to take things into your own hands. I think he was certainly trying to protect himself.
“Most people would go into that mode. I’m not saying he fought, but it’s hard to lay there and relax and not try to protect yourself. Anyone who suggests they would do that and restrain themselves from what he thought was an attack on him—that’s pretty hard. We’re hopeful that we get a fair hearing tonight, and we’ll see what comes of it.”
Smith also confirmed, as per Hull Live's story this morning, that Hull FC won't be challenging Ese'ese's charge. The prop has received a two-game ban for Grade D Head Contact. Pele, meanwhile, who was sent off in Thursday's derby, is set for a 4-6 game ban after receiving a Grade E Head Contact charge.
