Moa charge prompts tackle debate

The robust Tongan prop was dismissed for a challenge on London Broncos’ Julien Rinaldi just after the hour mark in Sunday night’s televised 22-14 win.

Referee Richard Silverwood stunned most of the KC Stadium crowd with his decision – Hull players had been congratulating their team-mate for what they thought was a ferocious but legal hit – and coach Peter Gentle was left similarly bewildered.

He suggested the sending-off, the first in Super League this season, only materialised because of other referees failing to take hard action in earlier games last weekend. Huddersfield Giants hooker Tommy Lee, for instance, was simply penalised and put on report for a high tackle which looked far worse in Saturday evening’s game against Warrington.

Indeed, Lee was yesterday also called to appear before the disciplinary and could now face a three-match ban if found guilty.

On Moa’s alleged offence, Gentle had said: “I think the decision was an over-reaction because the games I have seen over the weekend there was plenty of opportunities for players to be sent off.

“That’s the problem being the last game at the weekend – you bear the brunt of what has happened in previous games over the weekend.

“I don’t think it was a sending-off offence but we’ll let the judiciary panel decide whether he gets charged or not. But I do think it was an over-reaction.”

The RFL’s match review panel which met yesterday morning decided there was enough evidence to suggest Moa should be charged with a Grade B dangerous shoulder charge.

Such an offence can warrant up to a two-match suspension meaning the 25-year-old could, if found guilty, miss Friday’s game at Salford City Reds and the visit of Wakefield Trinity Wildcats.

Ex-Bradford Bulls hooker Rinaldi was knocked out cold by the thunderous challenge and played no further part in the game.

However, London coach Rob Powell admitted he had seen worse challenges.

“I’ll need to see the sending-off again, but I don’t think there was an elbow there and it didn’t seem a ridiculous challenge.”

Hull were dealt another blow yesterday when England Knights captain Joe Westerman confirmed he requires surgery after dislocating a shoulder against London.

The ex-Castleford loose forward will miss up to 12 weeks of action.

Lee, meanwhile, may use references from the opponent he poleaxed – Warrington’s Lee Briers – to strengthen his own defence at tonight’s disciplinary.

The former Hull FC star’s high tackle could easily have warranted an instant dismissal but the recipient of the ugly challenge has tweeted to say he thought it was just “totally mis-timed”.

Lee and Briers are good friends off the pitch while the Warrington stand-off recovered sufficiently to play a crucial role in his side’s gutsy 32-22 win. But the argument may hold little sway with the panel and Lee – who has impressed at Huddersfield since his winter move from Wakefield – might be hoping more for leniency.

Giants captain Kevin Brown, however, has escaped any charge for an alleged forearm on Warrington’s Chris Bridge, one of three incidents placed on report.

The other was Bridge himself who dangerously lifted Jacob Fairbank but he too has avoided being called up to the disciplinary.

Hull KR have moved to clear up the confusion surrounding the dramatic final few seconds of their pulsating draw with St Helens.

Rovers fans inside their Craven Park ground were furious its digital countdown clock had stopped and was not re-started before the visitors earned a late penalty.

Jamie Foster crucially slotted the goal to salvage Saints a 34-34 draw with home supporters raging that the hooter should already have been sounded.

However, Hull KR chief executive Mike Smith said the timekeeping was legitimate and they had no complaint.

“Unfortunately, the digital clock stopped with one minute 34 seconds remaining and didn’t restart,” he said.

“This was caused by a power failure but in no way did it affect the official timekeeping.”

Jamie Jones-Buchanan’s knee injury suffered during Leeds Rhinos’ World Club Challenge win is worse than first feared.

The England second-row underwent surgery yesterday and will be sidelined for up to three months.

Bradford Bulls’ James Donaldson, 20, will also miss six months of action after rupturing his anterior cruciate ligament – less than two years after enduring the same injury in his other knee.

Wakefield’s Super League game at Wigan Warriors has been brought forward 24 hours to Monday, April 9, kick-off 3pm.

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