Leeds Rhinos centre Harry Newman is hoping to successfully appeal against his two-match ban and feature in the Super League Magic Weekend clash against Castleford Tigers. Newman has been charged for Grade C aggressive behaviour towards a match official following last Thursday’s 42-12 defeat at defending champions St Helens.
Rhinos team-mate Zane Tetevano faces his fifth ban in less than two seasons after receiving a Grade D striking charge that is set to see him miss three to five games. Like Newman, Bodene Thompson has received a two-match ban after being charged for a trip which saw him sin-binned during the latter stages of the Saints defeat.
As things stand, the trio, unless any of them successfully appeal on Tuesday, will now all miss the upcoming games at Hull FC on Saturday and against Castleford at St James’ Park in Newcastle seven days later. Highly-rated Newman said today: “I’m just a very passionate player and sometimes things boil over.
Read more: Leeds Rhinos' woeful disciplinary issues continue with THREE players banned
“I don’t think I was aggressive towards him [referee Tom Grant] and if it’s come across that way, I just want to apologise to the fans. I know the refs have got a tough job to do – they can’t get everything right and as players, it’s tough when you’re in the moment and things sometimes get the better of you.
“It’s not meant personally and I don’t see myself as an aggressive person, towards the referees especially. But that’s what I’ve been given so I’ll just have to take it and see what comes from that.
“Hopefully the ban can be reduced so I can be involved at Magic Weekend. As it stands currently, I’m not going to be, which obviously would be disappointing. As a player these are the kind of games you want to be involved in. To miss out would be tough to take.”
Newman impressed in his first full 80-minute performance of the season, scoring a fine try during the first half.
“It was great to be back playing the full 80 minutes,” added the 22-year-old. “For the Thursday night in the first half, we played really well and matched St Helens. We had them on the ropes at times but a couple of things didn’t go our way.
“That’s something where we need to improve as a team – when things don’t go our way, we need to keep our discipline and just keep backing our performances week in and week out.
“That first half was a tough, hard battle and that’s what you want to be involved in as players. It was a tough loss to take, but Rohan (Smith) has come in and has his own ideas about what he wants us to be like as players. We’re only going to get better under him and I firmly believe that. He’s a great coach and a great bloke. Players will come and players will go, but he will build a team he wants to build.”
