Despite the home side losing the game and subsequently the series, it’s fair to say that the second Test of the Rugby League Ashes was eventful, with England needing to do anything they could to keep their Ashes hopes alive.
Shaun Wane’s men needed to up their intensity and aggression, and they certainly did that, even if there were times that physicality went a little over the legality line.
The Test, held at Everton’s Hill Dickinson Stadium, saw three yellow cards shown, with many more incidents that could leave players sweating as to whether they will be up in front of the disciplinary panel this week.
Any ban that may come from this game will come into effect in the third Test at Headingley. As much as that would be a blow to either side, the series already reaching it’s verdict means that the blow of losing a player wouldn’t be as harmful.
England and Australia stars sweating Rugby League Ashes disciplinary
The game saw a fiery opening, with players been sent for a 10-minute sit down less that two minutes into the contest.
After a coming together between the two hookers, Jez Litten and Harry Grant, players from both sides came running in, and the game erupted for the first of many times.
Following the incident which saw nearly all 26 players involved, highlighting the tensions and fiery nature of the game, Australian referee Grant Atkins decided to send one player from each side to the sin bin, with England’s Dominic Young and Australia’s Tino Fa’asuamaleaui being shown yellow.
That will be a concern for both sides, however replays showed that no punches were thrown, and so both players should be free from any serious charge.
Young seemed to be at the centre of all the controversial disciplinary matters, after he was taken high by full-back Reece Walsh in the act of scoring a try.
The Newcastle Knights winger looked to cross on the right edge, but the Kangaroos’ number one tackled him into touch, however the legality of that challenge was questioned.
Video referee Jack Smith deemed only a penalty was worthy, believing Walsh hit the shoulder of Young before travelling up to make high contact.
The pair were involved in another incident later in the game, which saw the Brisbane full-back sent to the sin bin.
George Williams’ high kick led to a try-scoring opportunity for Young, who leapt into the air to take the ball. Aussie winger Josh Addo-Carr managed to knock the ball dead, but Walsh went up at the same time to contest the kick, and ended up smashing into Young in mid-air, which led to his yellow card. Young had to leave the field through injury shortly after
The teams will have to wait until later this afternoon to receive the verdict, and with both sides expected to make changes for the third Test. Any suspensions could make a difference in the selection choices of Wane and Kevin Walters.
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