BANS HIT MAC SURVIVAL BID
STEVE McNAMARA’S hopes of steering Catalans away from a relegation scrap in the Qualifiers have been hit by suspensions to three key players.
The former England coach oversaw a win against Leigh on Saturday in his second match in charge of the Dragons – but it came at a cost as Benjamin Garcia, Fouad Yaha and Greg Bird have been banned for punching.
Garcia has been suspended for two matches and Bird and Yaha one each and they will miss Saturday’s crucial game against Wigan as the Dragons looks to claw back the two-point deficit between them and the top eight.
Leigh centre Ben Crooks also pleaded guilty to punching and was handed a one-match ban.
Team-mate Jamie Acton must wait until next week to learn his fate over a grade F charge for picking up Bird from the floor while he appeared to be injured. Leigh have asked for extra time to put their case together. Acton faces a minimum eight matches if found guilty.