St Helens will appeal the Match Review Panel's decision to charge Morgan Knowles after the England forward was given a two-match ban. Knowles, a standout performer for both club and country, looks set to miss the Super League Grand Final after receiving a two-match suspension following a tackle on Chris Atkin during Saints' semi-final victory over Salford Red Devils.
Knowles was sin-binned after a tackle on Atkin, in which he pulled at the arm of the Salford player. He has subsequently been handed a Grade B dangerous contact charge which is set to see him the Grand Final showpiece at Old Trafford. But Saints have already decided to appeal the charge and the hearing will take place on Tuesday evening.
He is the only player to receive a suspension ahead of the Grand Final, with Leeds Rhinos receiving no bans leading into the clash at the Theatre of Dreams. Jack Welsby has been charged for a high tackle but it has been given as Grade A and a zero match ban. Grade A charges can result in a zero or one-match suspension but Welsby has received the lower sanction due to his previous record. Guidelines state a player will only receive the higher sanction if they have been found guilty of two or more offences in the previous 24 months. Welsby has only been found guilty of one offence in that period.
