Jon Wilkin says the Wigan Warriors man should have been shown a red card

Wigan Warriors ran riot in the second half against Huddersfield Giants to win 48-12, but it could have been very different if Liam Byrne had been shown a red card, not a yellow, in the first minute, as expert Jon Wilkin argued that it should have happened.

Liam Byrne was hauled down for the first tackle of the game, with the Ireland international sent to the basket for high contact which saw him make contact with the head.

Referee Aaron Moore explained that there was mitigation, which meant Byrne avoided red, but he was still sent off for an incredible ten minutes after just ten seconds of the game.

Sky Sports pundit Jon Wilkin has now claimed somewhat facetiously that Byrne should have been shown red, based on the fact that St Helens winger Tommy Makinson was sent off for a similar offense last night.

‘Dangerous ground’ – Jon Wilkin rejects current precedent for red cards

Credit: Imago Images

The Tommy Makinson incident saw the St Helens winger sent off after just 12 minutes when he was adjudged to have made contact with the head while tackling Castleford’s Tex Hoy.

It was a decision that divided fans but caused much shock, including from Paul Wellens, who claimed he believed a yellow card would have been enough.

Jon Wilkin has now echoed her before comparing her to Liam Byrne sin bin as he reacts to the incident in Sky Sports’ coverage of Catalans Dragons versus Leeds Rhinos.

“It’s not a red card, is it? It’s a yellow card. It’s just a yellow card,” Jon Wilkin argued in frustration.

When pushed on the fact that the current protocol is more protective of head contact, which has led to many more bans and charges, Wilkin quickly responded by postulating: “Well Liam Byrne should have got a red card today.

“If that’s where we’re going then Liam Byrne should have been red carded. There was also a clash of heads between two players that left Tyler Dupree bleeding. Then it should be a red card.

“I think it’s dangerous ground. I think it was just a yellow card. Tex Hoy falls, Tommy Makinson may or may not touch him. We cannot see then, though we have looked at it ten times.”

Fellow pundit John Wells agreed with Jon Wilkin on Tommy Makinson’s decision, claiming red was the wrong decision and a yellow would have been enough.

Wells stated, “I would agree. I would think a yellow card. The striker loses height and for me it was indirect contact with the head. I think he was head first and a yellow card would have been enough.”