Leeds Rhinos forward Ferres could be banned for up to eight games

Ferres has been charged with making dangerous contact on Wigan’s Oliver Gildart during Rhinos’ 26-18 win at Headingley last Friday.

The second-rower, who has played only three game for Leeds this year after recovering from a long-term groin injury, was sin-binned by referee Ben Thaler.

He was issued with the grade E charge – the second most serious level under the RFL’s disciplinary system – after the incident was studied by the sport’s match review panel.

Rhinos prop Brad Singleton has served half of a six-match suspension imposed for striking Catalans Dragons’ Greg Bird with an elbow in a game last month.

That was also a grade E charge and was the most serious punishment handed to a Leeds player since David Cruickshank was banned for eight games in 1990.

Wigan coach Shaun Wane said Gildart suffered a “serious back “injury” and will be out of action for two to three months.

In a Tweet after the game, Ferres said he “would never intentionally want to hurt a player” and revealed he had apologised to Gildart following the incident.