Taia banned for three games

Catalan forward Zeb Taia has been banned for three matches following a shoulder charge on St Helens half-back Gareth O’Brien.

O’Brien was knocked out by the New Zealander in an off-the-ball incident during Saints’ 26-6 Super League victory over the Dragons in Perpignan on Saturday.

Taia pleaded not guilty to a charge of reckless striking with the shoulder at a Rugby Football League disciplinary tribunal, but was found guilty of the grade C offence by the panel.

Taia was also fined £300 by the RFL and will now miss Catalan’s upcoming games fixtures with Bradford, Wigan and Leeds.

A statement from the RFL read: “Catalan Dragons player Zeb Taia has been suspended for three games after an RFL disciplinary tribunal found him guilty of committing a grade C reckless striking with the shoulder offence on Gareth O’Brien of St Helens.”

St Helens head coach Nathan Brown was furious after the incident, branding the challenge as ‘disgraceful’ and ‘appalling’. He also called for more protection for smaller players, after it was confirmed O’Brien will miss this weekend’s home clash with London.

In other disciplinary news, Saints prop Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook and Catalan’s Mikael Simon avoided suspension, after submitting Early Guilty Pleas to grade A charges of punching after an altercation in the same game.

Hull KR‘s Lincoln Withers was suspended for one match after submitting an Early Guilty Plea to a grade B charge of dangerous contact following a challenge on Wigan full-back Ryan Hampshire.