Semi-final rivals lose key players to league suspensions

HULL KR prop Albert Vete will miss Saturday’s Challenge Cup semi-final against Huddersfield Giants after receiving a twogame ban.

The 29-year-old was sinbinned for a high tackle in the closing stages of Friday’s match against Leeds Rhinos.

Vete was left sweating over a potential suspension and the Rugby Football League’s match review panel has duly issued a two-match penalty notice, ruling the front-rower out of KR’s trip to Elland Road as well as the Super League game against Castleford Tigers. The panel noted: “Tried to tackle but reckless about outcome.”

Vete sat out two games through suspension earlier in the season and recently missed five matches with a calf injury. As well as his ban, Vete received a caution for dangerous contact.

Huddersfield have also lost a front-rower for the semi-final after Matty English received a one-match penalty notice for dangerous contact in the early stages of the game against Wakefield Trinity.

Fellow prop Oliver Wilson was also charged with dangerous contact but has escaped a ban.

The Giants were already without half-back Jack Cogger for the Elland Road clash after he was banned for three matches last week.

Leeds forwards Matt Prior and Morgan Gannon have both been handed two-game bans following incidents in the match against Hull KR at Headingley.

Prior was charged with grade B tripping, while Gannon was guilty of touching an injured player.

The teenager picked up a seemingly unconscious Lachlan Coote following a heavy collision with Kruise Leeming, deemed a grade C offence by the match review panel.

Both Gannon and Prior will miss Leeds’ games against Salford Red Devils and Wakefield after the two-week break. Fellow forwards Zane Tetevano and James Bentley have both completed two-match suspensions and will be available to face Salford.