Hull KR’s Mikey Lewis handed four-match ban for headbutt and late tackle

Hull KR playmaker Mikey Lewis has been suspended for four matches following incidents in Saturday’s 34-12 home defeat to Warrington Wolves. The Match Review Panel announced the ban on Monday after reviewing footage of the game.

Lewis was sin-binned during the match for a late tackle on Warrington’s Ewan Irwin, but he also appeared to headbutt Adam Holroyd in an off-the-ball incident that went unnoticed by match officials at the time. The panel handed him a one-game penalty for Grade C late contact and a separate three-game ban for a Grade E headbutt.

What happened

The incidents occurred as Hull KR suffered a heavy loss that damaged their push for a play-off spot. The defending champions have now fallen two points behind St Helens with eight rounds of the Super League season remaining, and Lewis’s absence will be a significant blow to their hopes.

• Four-match suspension confirmed for Mikey Lewis
• One game for late tackle, three games for headbutt
• Both incidents happened in the loss to Warrington Wolves
• Lewis will miss the Hull derby and games against Bradford, Castleford and Catalans
• Hull KR are two points off the play-off places with eight games left

What's next

Hull KR will have to cope without their star scrum-half for a crucial run of fixtures, starting with the local derby against Hull FC. The club has not indicated whether it will appeal the decision, and Lewis will be eligible to return in early September if the ban stands.