Leeds Rhinos: Rhinos forward Singleton hit by six-match ban for elbow on Bird

Singleton, ever-present so far this season, admitted grade E striking with an elbow in last Friday’s 46-10 home win over Catalans Dragons. He was placed on report following the challenge on Greg Bird.

The punishment will keep Singleton, who was also fined £300, out of action until the fifth round of the Ladbrokes Challenge Cup, on the weekend beginning April 21.

Rhinos chief executive Gary Hetherington said: “It’s a big suspension. The grade the match review panel gave him was E, which is four to eight matches, so the committee have taken the middle ground.

“Obviously they’ve judged it as a serious offence. Brad is tough and robust, but not a malicious player. Clearly there was an action there, but I don’t know how deliberate.

“It is a severe suspension in this day and age, it is more than a quarter of the initial league games.”

Rhinos already have two props and three back-rowers on the injury list and Hetherington added: “It is a blow to Brad and us, particularly given the number of injuries we’ve got in the forwards.”

Meanwhile, Friday’s Headingley visitors Wakefield Trinity will be without centre Reece Lyne for six to eight weeks due to a knee injury suffered against Salford Red Devils three days ago.