Leeds Rhinos have been stung after Rhyse Martin's ban was DOUBLED after their appeal to overturn the charge was deemed frivolous. The Rhinos made an attempt to clear their back-rower for the play-off clash with Catalans Dragons after he was given a one-match ban for a high tackle in their win over Castleford Tigers.
But their case has been deemed frivolous by the operations tribunal and rather than scrub his suspension, they have instead added an extra game. It's a bitter blow for the Rhinos who not only will now be without their goal-kicking supremo for the first round match with Catalans Dragons but also the semi-final should they be victorious in France.
Martin was charged for a high tackle that left Tigers back-rower Alex Mellor with a bloodied nose. Despite that, the referee didn't deem the incident worthy of any punishment and the video referee did not intervene. Despite that, the Match Review Panel deemed it necessary to take action against the incident.
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It's fair to say that many have already expressed their astonishment at the move. Sky Sports pundit and former Leeds Rhinos player Barrie McDermott tweeted: "With absolutely no club bias that ban was very harsh, Leeds had a case to appeal… this decision is absolutely ridiculous 3 games in 15 days at the end of the year & a falling player hits the defenders arm, not the other way round, his audacity to question it ends his season!"
Leeds will name their squad for the game on Wednesday.
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