Super League players heading into 2023 with suspensions
Several Super League players head into the 2023 campaign with suspensions carrying on from last season.
Grand Final winner Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook looks set to miss Mark Percival’s testimonial match in early 2023, but that should allow him to play against St George Illawarra Dragons in Australia ahead of their World Club Challenge showdown with Penrith.
The 36-year-old received a one-match ban in the victory over Leeds at Old Trafford with a Grade B contact with a match official.
St Helens will face St George Illawarra as part of their pre-season schedule in February.
Gil Dudson is believed to be free to play for new club Warrington in the new year, having missed the World Cup with Wales due to a three-match ban for a Grade C head butt during Catalans’ play-off defeat to Leeds in Perpignan.
Mitchell Pearce will miss Catalans’ first pre-season game of 2023. He received a one-match penalty notice during the same fixture.
Free agent Dylan Napa will be free to play after serving his two-match ban during the World Cup with Cook Islands. He featured in their final group game against Tonga.
Castleford duo Suaia Matagi and Sam Hall both received two-match bans for dangerous contact during the final round of the regular 2022 season against Leeds. The pair will miss pre-season fixtures against Featherstone and Keighey (Jake Webster’s testimonial).
Meanwhile, Liam Watts has one game remaining on a two-match ban sustained in the defeat to Salford last August.
Off-contract international Luke Gale picked up a one-match ban during the Hull derby – the final game of the season. The half-back still remains without a club after being released at the conclusion of 2022.
Catalans recruit Romain Navarrete has one game remaining on his two-match ban for a Grade C head butt with Toulouse.
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