Wigan Warriors, St Helens and Castleford Tigers players have been suspended

Wigan Warriors’ Liam Byrne is one of three players suspended by the RFL’s Match Review Board, ruling him out of this weekend’s Challenge Cup semi-finals.

Byrne will miss Saturday’s clash with Hull KR after receiving a two-match ban for a Grade C Head Contact charge following an incident during the Warriors’ win over Huddersfield Giants on Saturday.

That means if the Warriors are unsuccessful with any possible appeal, Byrne will miss the biggest game of the season so far.

St Helens winger Tommy Makinson was also charged with Grade C Head Contact, and handed a one-match ban – due to being at the lower end of the sanction grade – following an incident in Saints’ win against Castleford .

The Tigers’ Liam Horne was also suspended for one match for a Grade C dangerous throw/lift during that game.

A further four players were fined £250 but not suspended: Huddersfield duo Ashton Golding and Esan Marsters, London captain Will Lovell and Hull FC striker Jordan Lane.

All clubs have until Tuesday to decide whether or not to appeal the bans – and all eyes, in particular, will be on Wigan to see if they decide to fight the Byrne incident.

Wigan manager Matt Peet said following their win on Saturday that he expected Byrne to avoid suspension.

“If he misses today, I don’t think he will be the only one, because I thought there were similar contacts,” he said.

“I’m not saying it was a wrong decision. But I don’t see consistency between one high game and another. But I expect it to be fine.”

However, Peet’s optimism proved unfounded, with Byrne serving a two-game suspension that rules him out of this weekend’s semi-finals.