Leeds dealt blow ahead of Magic Weekend with forward banned

Leeds will be without forward James McDonnell at Magic Weekend after the forward was handed a two-match ban by the match review panel.

The Ireland international was sent off late on in their 13-12 golden point extra-time defeat to St Helens on Friday night for what the referee deemed as a punch on Saints half-back Jonny Lomax.

And now, the Rugby Football League’s match review panel have given McDonnell a two-match penalty notice as well as a £250 fine.

McDonnell is set to miss Leeds’ next two matches against Castleford at Magic Weekend on Saturday and Wakefield the following week.

There were no other bans in Super League following Round 13, but three more players were fined.

St Helens forward Sione Mata’utia was fined £250 for a Grade A dangerous contact against Leeds.

Hull KR prop Sauaso Sue was fined £250 for a Grade A raising his knee in a tackle in their golden point extra-time defeat to Wigan.

And Salford prop King Vuniyayawa was fined £250 for a Grade B high tackle in their 29-22 win over Hull on Sunday afternoon.

Super League sanctions from Round 13:

• James McDonnell (Leeds Rhinos) – Grade D Punching – 2 Match Penalty Notice & £250 Fine
• Sione Mata’utia (St Helens) – Grade A Dangerous Contact – £250 Fine
• Nene Macdonald (Leeds Rhinos) – Grade A Other Contrary Behaviour – Not Applicable
• Sauaso Sue (Hull KR) – Grade A Raising Knee in Tackle – £250 Fine
• King Vuniyayawa (Salford Red Devils) – Grade B High Tackle – £250 Fine

Rhinos down on numbers

Leeds boss Rohan Smith will be without a number of first team regulars for their Magic clash with Castleford on Saturday.

The Rhinos lost half-back Aidan Sezer, utility Morgan Gannon and centre Harry Newman to injuries in their defeat to St Helens.

The severity of the injuries haven’t yet been revealed, but they will likely be discussed in Smith’s press conference this week.

Speaking immediately after their loss to Saints, Smith said: “They will be significant injuries.

“You know when players get replaced in the manner that they did, you know they’re not returning to the game.

“They’ll get reviewed over the weekend and we’ll find out the outcomes of those, but let’s not take away from the blokes that were out there and did what they did.”

Speaking in his press conference prior to the Saints game, Smith revealed that they’d be without half-back Blake Austin and prop Sam Lisone for a couple of weeks with calf injuries.

Smith said: “They’re both calf injuries. Blake Austin is probably a couple of weeks away. Sam Lisone is probably a month away.”

Meanwhile, towering prop Sam Walters passed his head injury assessment on Friday, so he will be available to play at Magic Weekend.

READ NEXT: Super League Round 13 attendances as Leeds record impressive crowd