Wolves coach not expecting any action after Dec Patton biting allegation
Ligi Sao (13) of Hull FC during the game
Warrington coach Steve Price says he doesn’t expect any further action against half-back Dec Patton, following a biting allegation made against him during the win over Hull.
Ligi Sao reported an incident to referee Ben Thaler just prior to Michael Cooper’s try for the Wolves in the first half.
Replays should Patton in an awkward position under pressure from Sau, who had his arm wrapped round the half-back in a tackle.
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Price said: “I felt it was a bit of a crusher tackle. His head was getting pushed down into the arm of Ligi Sau and he doesn’t wear a mouth guard. I don’t see anything coming of it.”
Directly from the Patton play-the-ball, Warrington moved it right and Cooper crashed over from close range, with some attributing some ordinary Hull defence to the distraction of the bite report going on at the same time.
Hull coach Andy Last added: “I’ve not looked at the incident back. Ligi seems to think Dec bit him. He was trying to get in close and he may have had a bit of a nibble but I can’t really comment with any conviction.”
The incident was placed on report after the try was scored, so Patton must nervously wait for the RFL disciplinary news on Monday.
The Wolves can ill-afford to lose any players, after seeing their squad decimated by enforced self-isolation of six players due to a coronavirus outbreak, while a seventh tested positive for COVID-19 on Thursday.
All seven will remain unavailable for next Thursday’s clash with Castleford.
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