Jackson Hastings has escaped punishment from the RFL’s Match Review Panel (MRP) following an incident involving injured Bradford forward Will Gardiner during Saturday’s game between St Helens and the Bulls. Gardiner sustained a severe concussion late in the match and was subsequently transported to the hospital after being carried off on a stretcher.
In a gesture of concern, Hastings placed his hand on Gardiner to check on the 25-year-old’s condition. Fortunately, Gardiner is now recovering at home after the incident.
While the Super League strictly prohibits players from making contact with injured opponents, speculation has arisen over potential sanctions against Saints players, especially given that others have been penalized for similar infractions throughout the ongoing 2026 season.
Meanwhile, semi Valemei recently received a three-match suspension after placing St Helens’ Noah Stephens in the recovery position during their 30-10 loss to Castleford Tigers. As a result, Hastings is expected to play in the upcoming derby match against the Wigan Warriors during the Magic Weekend.
In other disciplinary news, St Helens forward Alex Walmsley was awarded five penalty points for endangering an opponent following a ‘chicken wing’ tackle in the first half. He faced a fine for the incident, while fellow teammate Shane Wright received similar penalties after his own infraction during the match.
Pangai Jr. faces six-match suspension for serious foul play
Hull KR announced on Monday that Tevita Pangai Jr. has been handed a six-match ban after receiving a grade F charge from the MRP for gouging a Leeds Rhinos player during Friday’s encounter at Headingley. Consequently, he will be unavailable for Saturday’s derby against Hull FC at Hill Dickinson Stadium, as well as for his return match at MKM Stadium on July 23. However, he can potentially rejoin the squad for the home game against the Catalan Dragons on August 13.
This suspension represents a significant setback for Hull KR, as the Tonga international has quickly made an impact on the field since joining the team in May. In his initial three games, he recorded an impressive 16 tackles against Leeds. The club is considering an appeal against the decision, hoping for Pangai’s early return to fill in for injured prop players Sauaso Suh and Sam Rackley.
Additionally, Hull KR’s James Batchelor received a grade B charge and was fined by the MRP for head contact during the same match.
Dragons to compete without two key players in Toulouse clash
The Catalan Dragons will be missing two key players for their derby match against Toulouse, as Guillermo Aispuro-Bichet and Franck Maria have both been suspended by the MRP. Aispuro-Bichet faced a grade D charge and received a two-game suspension for his tackle on Warrington’s Aaron Lindop, which head coach Sam Burgess described as “very ugly.” Lindop is expected to be sidelined for six weeks due to the injury.
In addition, Maria received a one-game suspension for a grade B charge related to head contact. Meanwhile, York Knights center Sam Wood also faced repercussions, receiving a grade D dangerous contact charge in his team’s 20-14 defeat against Castleford Tigers. Wood’s suspension will keep him out of the opening day of the Super League Magic Weekend, where the Knights are set to face the Huddersfield Giants.
Important upcoming dates in the Super League 2026 season
Magic Weekend: July 4th – July 5th
Rivals Round Reversal: July 23rd – July 26th
Elimination Playoffs: September 19th – September 20th
Playoff Semifinals: September 26th – September 27th
Grand Final: October 3rd
Sky Sports will provide live coverage of every Super League match this season, featuring exclusive broadcasts of two matches in each round, while the remaining five games can be viewed on Sky Sports+.
