St Helens star Morgan Knowles banned AFTER Grand Final

The RFL’s match review committee issued a one-match penalty notice after charging Knowles with grade A dangerous contact during Saints’ 24-12 success at Old Trafford.

Knowles’ availability to play last Saturday, after he was initially banned, overshadowed the build-up to the title match.

The number 13 failed in a challenge against a two-match penalty notice for grade B dangerous contact in Saints’ semi-final win over Salford Red Devils, but was cleared to play following a second appeal.

Assuming there is no appeal this time, Knowles will be suspended for England’s World Cup warm-up game against Fiji at Salford on Friday, October 7.

Another England man John Bateman was last week called into the second-string Knights squad to reduce the number of World Cup matches he will miss after being sent-off during Wigan Warriors’ Super League semi-final loss to Rhinos.

A disciplinary panel handed Bateman the minimum three-match ban after he was charged with grade D striking.

The Knights’ meeting with France ‘B’ this Sunday will count as the first game on his suspension and he will also miss the clash with Fiji and England’s opening group game against Samoa.

Rhinos’ Aidan Sezer was ruled out of the Grand Final after being concussed in the incident which resulted in Bateman’s red card.

Saints forward Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook was suspended for one game over contact with the match official during the Grand Final.