Joe Shorrocks had the dubious distinction of becoming the first Betfred Super League player to be suspended under the RFL’s new on-field sentencing guidelines.
The Salford Red Devils forward was given a Grade D head contact charge by the match review panel for his tackle on Leeds Rhinos’ Brodie Croft in Saturday’s 32-6 defeat for the hosts at Salford Community Stadium.
That immediately incurred a suspension following to the imposition of 12 penalty points and Shorrocks was had a further three points added due to Croft being unable to continue in the match after failing a head injury assessment.
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As a result, the 25-year-old back row was suspended for two matches and fined 0.5 percent of his salary, as per the 2025 sanctioning process.
Once Shorrocks’ suspension has been completed, his penalty points total will be halved to 7.5.
Nine other charges were brought following Round 2 of the 2025 Super League season, two of which were for Hull KR’s Michael McIlorum.
The hooker, who was sin-binned late on in the Robins’ 14-12 win over Wakefield Trinity, faced a Grade A dangerous contact charge and a Grade B head contact charge, which saw a total of four points added to his record.
Wakefield full-back Max Jowitt received three penalty points for a Grade B dangerous contact charge from the same game.
Catalans Dragons pair Alrix da Costa and Oliver Partington, Wigan Warriors’ Kaide Ellis, St Helens’ Morgan Knowles and Salford Red Devils’ Matty Foster all picked up one point each for Grade A charges.
Under the on-field sentencing guidelines for 2025, which came into effect from January 1, any player who reached 12 penalty points will be suspended.
However, any offences which are classed as Grade D or E will see a player automatically suspended.
Fines for Super League players are now issued as a percentage of salary, up to a maximum of £1,000.
