Leeds Rhinos: Moon banned for one game

Magic Weekend Newcastle
Leeds Rhinos v Wigan Warriors
sat 30th may 2015
Joel Moon holds off Ben Flower of Wigan — Magic Weekend Newcastle Leeds Rhinos v Wigan Warriors sat 30th may 2015 Joel Moon holds off Ben Flower of Wigan

Leeds Rhinos centre Joel Moon will miss Sunday’s derby at Wakefield Trinity Wildcats after being suspended by the RFL disciplinary committee.

Moon collected a one-game ban after appearing at a hearing in Leeds on Tuesday evening.

The Australian was originally charged with making Grade C dangerous contact on Wigan Warriors winger Josh Charnley in the 30th minute of last Saturday’s Magic Weekend fixture at Newcastle’s St James’ Park.

An RFL spokesman said: “He pleaded guilty to dangerous contact and after going through the video the tribunal downgraded the charge from Grade C to Grade B.”

Grade C charges are punishable by a two or three game ban, while one or two matches applies to Grade B.

The incident was spotted by the RFL’s match review panel.

Moon will be available for Rhinos’ home game against Castleford Tigers on Thursday, June 11.

He is the first Rhinos player to appear before the disciplinary committee this season.

Huddersfield Giants full-back Scott Grix was banned for one game after pleading guilty to Grade B striking with the shoulder in Sunday’s draw with Catalans Dragons.

Catalans’ Rami Casty was cleared of making a Grade C dangerous throw on Huddersfield’s Eorl Crabtree.

Featherstone Rovers’ Paul Wood and Remi Maitua were also due to appear on Tuesday, but their hearing was put back 24 hours.