Leeds Rhinos boss Richard Agar left bemused by Alex Mellor’s one-match ban

By Peter Smith
Published 30th Jun 2021, 15:43 BST
Updated 1st Jul 2021, 09:33 BST
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THE ONE-GAME ban handed out to forward Alex Mellor has left Leeds Rhinos coach Richard Agar bemused.

Mellor is one of three Rhinos players who will miss tomorrow’s visit of Leigh Centurions following disciplinary incidents in last Sunday’s win at Salford Red Devils.

He appealed against a one-match penalty notice for making physical contact with the referee, but the ban was upheld by the RFL’s disciplinary panel.

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Captain and half-back Luke Gale will miss two games after being sin-binned for punching and Bodene Thompson received a one-match suspension for a similar offence.

Leeds Rhinos' Alex Mellor on the charge against Salford Red Devils on Sunday. The forward was handed a one-game ban for making physical contact with the referee. Picture: Steve Riding.Leeds Rhinos' Alex Mellor on the charge against Salford Red Devils on Sunday. The forward was handed a one-game ban for making physical contact with the referee. Picture: Steve Riding.
Leeds Rhinos' Alex Mellor on the charge against Salford Red Devils on Sunday. The forward was handed a one-game ban for making physical contact with the referee. Picture: Steve Riding.

Two other Leeds players, hooker Brad Dwyer for dangerous contact and centre Tom Briscoe (contact with the match official) were charged, but not suspended.

The Salford player involved in the Gale incident, Ryan Lannon, avoided a ban for punching and Lee Mossop – who laid out Leeds’ Konrad Hurrell with a punch, keeping him out of tonight’s game – was suspended for two matches, along with Jack Wells (dangerous throw). Joe Burgess received a one-game ban for punching.

Reflecting on the bans, Agar said: “I can understand a couple of suspensions. Bodene threw a punch and Luke threw punches, so that’s always going to happen, but I am really, really disappointed Alex is going to miss a game and Tommy was charged.

“They are tough ones to handle.

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