Following this weekend’s Super League games, five players—including St Helens prop Sione Mata’utia—were given one-match bans. However, teams will have an escape route this weekend thanks to the reserve games, which will let several of those players to participate in a competitive encounter.
After the Saints’ Sunday loss to the Salford Red Devils, Mata’utia was charged with Grade B head contact and will miss one game.
A one-game ban has also been imposed on London’s Emanuel Waine, Huddersfield Giants’ Elliot Wallis, and Catalans’ Arthur Romano and Michael McIlorum in response to charges in their respective matches in recent days.
However, because of a set of reserves matches this weekend, the players from English-based clubs won’t miss any Super League games.
Due to a glitch in the system, clubs are able to select players for reserve matches, hence the suspensions are taken into consideration during those matches as opposed to competitive Super League games.
