LEIGH LEOPARDS forward Jack Hughes has become the latest player to be punished for making “unnecessary contact with a player who is injured or maybe injured”.

That particular offence has been a talking point in recent weeks after Leeds Rhinos fullback Lachlan Miller and Castleford Tigers winger Semi Valemei were banned for three matches apiece.

Miller and Castleford coach Ryan Carr both spoke out against those charges and called for a change to the disciplinary rulebook.

But it remains a strongly-punished offence, with Hughes also given a three-match ban for the Grade E charge during Leigh’s 38-12 victory at Bradford Bulls on Sunday.

As a result, Hughes will miss the Leopards’ upcoming trips to Hull KR (this Friday) and Toulouse Olympique (Saturday, June 27), plus their Magic Weekend clash with Warrington Wolves on Saturday, July 4 at Hill Dickinson Stadium in Liverpool.

He’s the only player to receive a ban from the match review panel, who gave out ten charges in total, as listed below.

Ben Currie (Warrington Wolves) – Opposition: St Helens – Grade A Head Contact – Penalty Points: 1 – Total Penalty Points: 2 – No further action
Matt Whitley (St Helens) – Opposition: Warrington Wolves – Grade A Striking – Penalty Points: 1 – Total Penalty Points: 2 – No further action
Joe Shorrocks (St Helens) – Opposition: Warrington Wolves – Grade A Late contact on passer – Penalty Points: 1 – Total Penalty Points: 5.5 – Fine
Tyler Dupree (Castleford Tigers) – Opposition: Catalans Dragons – Grade A Contrary Behaviour – Penalty Points: 1 – Total Penalty Points: 1.75 – No further action
Guillermo Aispuro-Bichet (Catalans Dragons) – Opposition: Castleford Tigers – Grade A Late contact on passer – Penalty Points: 1 – Total Penalty Points: 1 – No further action
Toa Mata’afa (York Knights) – Opposition: Hull KR – Grade B Striking – Penalty Points: 3 – Total Penalty Points: 3 – Fine
King Vuniyayawa (York Knights) – Opposition: Hull KR – Grade B Dangerous Throw/Lift – Penalty Points: 3 – Total Penalty Points: 4.5 – Fine
Jack Hughes (Leigh Leopards) – Opposition: Bradford Bulls – Grade E Unnecessary contact with a player who is injured or may be injured – Penalty Points: 18 – Total Penalty Points: 18.5 – 3 match suspension
Riley Dean (Bradford Bulls) – Opposition: Leigh Leopards – Grade C Striking – Penalty Points: 5 – Total Penalty Points: 5.25 – Fine
Edwin Ipape (Leigh Leopards) – Opposition: Bradford Bulls – Grade B Dangerous Contact – Penalty Points: 3 – Total Penalty Points: 3.5 – Fine