Chase hit with seven-game ban for ‘disgraceful attack’

Chase was one of the last players to appear before an independent disciplinary tribunal on a busy night at Red Hall as Red Devils fans held their breath.

The mercurial stand-off had contested the charge of making a grade E dangerous throw on former England team-mate Brett Ferres in Salford’s victory at Huddersfield on Good Friday, but he was found guilty by the panel.

The hefty ban should go some way to appeasing Giants head coach Paul Anderson, who had asked the Rugby Football League to “throw the book at Chase”.

The incident has left Ferres with a serious ankle injury which is set to keep him on the sidelines for up to four months.

“He’s not in a good way,” said Anderson. “His syndesmosis ligaments are no longer.

“It’s disgraceful. It’s attacking a standing leg, and when you look at the footage we have it’s even worse.”

Meanwhile, England international Zak Hardaker is staying at Leeds Rhinos but has been fined a month’s salary after being involved in a fracas with a student.

The money will go to a local charity and Hardaker will also go on an anger management course and work as a volunteer for up to 20 hours a week for the duration of his Rhinos contract to assist the Leeds Rhinos Foundation and marketing department.

Four other Rhinos players have also been disciplined by the club. Elliot Minchella, who was involved with Hardaker in the incident in a student accommodation building, has received a written warning and a fine of 50 per cent of his monthly salary

Rob Mulhern, Josh Walters and Ash Handley have each received a fine and a verbal warning.

On the pitch, Leeds have been left without any experienced wingers after Ryan Hall was told he faces as long as a month on the sidelines.

Hall has been playing with a wrist injury and scans have revealed a minor fracture. Rhinos’ other wing man Tom Briscoe has missed the last four games following surgery to repair a damaged shoulder and will be out of action for up to a eight weeks.

Hall has scored three tries in Rhinos’ past two matches and his loss is a huge blow ahead of Sunday’s trip to Salford.

Rhinos had initially believed Hall would be available this weekend, but were told of his lay-off after he saw a specialist yesterday.

England international Tom Burgess has signed a new deal with the South Sydney Rabbitohs which ties him to the NRL club until the end of the 2016 season.

The Dewsbury-born 22-year-old, who has played alongside brothers Sam, George and Luke during his time with the Rabbitohs, moved to Australia in 2013 and has already tasted success, winning the NRL Grand Final.

“I’m really excited about signing on for another year with the Rabbitohs,” said the former Bradford Bulls prop.