Leeds Rhinos forward James Donaldson has been charged with a Grade B offence of Throwing following his sin-binning against Wakefield Trinity on Boxing Day. The Cumbrian back-rower was yellow carded following a tackle on Trinity’s Oliver Pratt, but a change to the sport’s on-field misconduct rules means Donaldson has been fined, rather than banned.
The Match Review Panel, which met yesterday, charged Donaldson with a dangerous throw and issued a £250 fine, but he was not suspended. The panel minutes stated: “Other tackler’s actions were part of the problem (only applies where player is not aware of other tackler’s actions).”
Up until the end of the 2022 campaign, grade B charges carried a ban of one-two games – depending on the player’s previous record- and a fine would only be issued if the case went to a disciplinary hearing. Now, a grade B offence will now result in either a fine, one-match suspension, or both. Grade A offences - which previously could have led to a one-match penalty notice (ban) - will be punished by either a caution or a fine.
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Meanwhile, Castleford Tigers’ Cain Robb and opponent Josh Hardcastle, of Featherstone Rovers, avoided punishment after being sin-binned during their sides’ New Year’s Eve derby. Robb was cautioned for pushing and the review panel took no action against Hardcastle, stating: "Player is trying to regain feet and does not throw arm into the player.”
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