Warrington ace Sitaleki Akauola to miss Challenge Cup final

Warrington forward Sitaleki Akauola will miss the Challenge Cup final after being charged by an independent operational rules tribunal.

Akauola pleaded guilty to a dangerous contact offence that he received following the Wolves’ loss at Castleford Tigers.

He challenged the grading at Grade A as being too severe, but having considered all the submissions from the player and his representatives, the tribunal (Chris Batty, Stuart Fielden and Wilf George) are satisfied that the grading was correct and that the one-match suspension should stand.

In addition, there should be a £500 fine and a £500 challenge deposit to the penalty notice should be additionally forfeited.

Elsewhere, Batley Bulldogs’ Alex Bretherton and Barrow Raiders’ Brett Carter have accepted one-match penalty notices for Grade B dangerous contact and Grade B intentionally stands on respectively.