Hock and Paterson banned for four matches

Widnes back-rower Gareth Hock and Hull KR‘s Cory Paterson have both been banned for four games by the RFL Disciplinary Commitee.

Hock, 29, was found guilty of making deliberate contact with referee George Stokes during their Challenge Cup win over Workington at the weekend.

He pleaded not guilty, but was also fined £300 by the panel.

It rules him out of Widnes’ games against Huddersfield, Salford and Catalan, while the suspension also includes the Vikings game against his parent club Wigan, which he is unable to play in anyway due to an agreement between the two clubs.

He will be able to return to action for England against Exiles in the Origin international on June 14th, and his next Widnes game is likely to be at Leeds on June 17th.

Paterson, 25, was found guilty of committing a reckless striking offence on Blake Green during their defeat to Wigan on Sunday, and was also fined £300.

Leeds stand-off Danny McGuire avoided suspension for a punching offence against Huddersfield, but was given a formal warning and fined £300.

Earlier, Huddersfield’s Joe Wardle and London’s Antonio Kaufusi both submitted early guilty pleas and received two-match bans.

Salford prop Jordan James received a one-match ban for his dangerous contact on Brett Hodgson, while Huddersfield’s Leroy Cudjoe avoided suspension but lost his right to submit an early guilty plea again in the next 12 months, for his involvement in the incident with McGuire.