St Helens learn Tommy Makinson fate as tribunal verdict on winger and John Asiata delivered

St Helens have successfully challenged the grading of Tommy Makinson’s three-match suspension at a tribunal on Tuesday evening – with the winger’s ban being reduced by one match.

Makinson was shown a straight red card on Saturday afternoon after a dangerous challenge on Hull KR’s Tyrone May during the Saints’ defeat to the Robins.

He was then charged with Grade D Head Contact on Monday by the Match Review Panel and given a three-match ban. Barely hours later though, St Helens confirmed that they were intending to appeal the severity of the suspension.

And a tribunal on Tuesday evening, Makinson’s case was heard – and he was successful in challenging the grading of the charge and its severity.

That meant a reduction from three matches to two – meaning that Makinson will be free to feature at the Totally Wicked Stadium one last time. They face Castleford Tigers in the penultimate round of the season, in what could be their final home game of 2024.

The verdict means that if the Saints do not finish fourth, Makinson has one final home match as a St Helens player. He will join Catalans Dragons in 2025, and with the Saints having only one more home match, Makinson will be guaranteed a home farewell. He will still miss games against Huddersfield Giants and Warrington Wolves.

If the Saints do finish fourth, they will be at home in the opening weekend of the play-offs. However, should they finish fifth or sixth, they will be away in the first week of the Super League play-offs.

Meanwhile, the tribunal rejected an appeal from Leigh Leopards against the grading of John Asiata’s charge that led to the forward receiving a one-match ban.

Asiata must therefore serve the suspension and will miss this week’s home clash against Warrington Wolves.

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