Barrow Raiders have claimed the Rugby Football League have “dug themselves in a hole” and called for a “complete change of direction” in their disciplinary process following the Morgan Knowles saga. The 25-year-old St Helens forward was involved in a controversial an incident with Salford’s Chris Atkin during last Saturday’s play-off semi-final victory, after which he was sin-binned by referee Chris Kendall.
But Saints launched a second appeal on Wednesday which proved successful – freeing to him to play against Leeds in this weekend’s Grand Final – provoking an angry response by many Rhinos supporters and disbelief in some quarters. The defending champions claimed the original conclusion by a Rugby Football League tribunal was “unreasonable” based on the evidence presented.
Knowles was born in Barrow and the Raiders said in a club statement posted on their official Facebook page: “The RFL seem to have dug themselves in a hole and there needs to be a complete change of direction if clubs and fans aren’t going to be alienated. Lots of debate around our local player Morgan Knowles who has won his appeal against suspension and is free to play in the Grand Final.
