Wigan Warriors Coach Questions High Tackle Laws After Controversial Incident
Wigan Warriors head coach Matt Peet has questioned the laws surrounding high tackles in Super League following a controversial incident in his side’s weekend victory over Huddersfield Giants. Just a minute into the match, Wigan’s Liam Byrne was sent to the sin-bin for a high tackle involving contact to the head, leaving the Warriors down to 12 men early on. Despite this setback, Wigan went on to secure a convincing 48-6 win, with Liam Marshall scoring an incredible length-of-the-field try shortly after Byrne’s yellow card.
While Elliot Wallis managed to cross the line for Huddersfield, Wigan dominated the remainder of the contest, scoring 40 unanswered points at the John Smith’s Stadium. However, the disciplinary concerns did not end there, as Esan Marsters was also sin-binned late in the game for a trip.
Peet expressed his uncertainty regarding the consistency of decisions around high tackles, stating, >”I can’t see consistency across one high tackle to the next.”
He is confident that Byrne will be available for Wigan’s upcoming Challenge Cup semi-final against Hull KR, who suffered a 20-8 defeat to Warrington Wolves on Thursday.
Another high-profile high tackle incident occurred in the same weekend, with Tommy Makinson of St Helens receiving a red card for a shoulder-to-the-head tackle on Castleford Tigers’ Tex Hoy, resulting in a penalty try for the opposition. Comparing the decisions, former player Jon Wilkin questioned the lack of consistency, arguing, >”If that’s where we go with it then Liam Byrne should have got a red card.”
Disciplinary issues will be a key concern for Wigan Warriors as they prepare for their Challenge Cup semi-final clash with Hull KR, with the Match Review Panel’s decisions on the weekend’s incidents set to be revealed today.
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