Eribe Doro, a forward for Hull KR, and Jeremiah Simbiken, a new player for Castleford Tigers, have been charged with incidents during recent friendly matches; however, it is yet unclear how the new disciplinary procedure will be applied in 2025.
Players would only be suspended if and when their total points over a 12-month period hit a specific threshold, according to the Rugby Football League’s announcement last month that a new points-based system would be used for the forthcoming season. Points would be awarded for incidents according to how serious they were.
However, the RFL faced criticism after it seemed to indicate that players’ 2024 charges will be carried over into 2025. This put a number of Super League players at immediate risk of being banned. They went on to say that the modifications would be reviewed.
However, the most recent charges seem to have raised further questions about the system that will be used. Due to a Grade C incident that occurred during Hull KR’s victory over York in Amsterdam, Doro has been suspended for two games. This is true even though the new system only penalizes Grade C offenses with a five-point deduction. A one-match ban requires six points.
Given that his personal total exceeded the threshold for a two-match penalty, it would seem that Doro’s past performance has worked against him in the short term. In the past 12 months, Doro was charged four times: once for a Grade B offense, twice for a Grade C offense, and once for a Grade D offense.
All of those charges would have been lowered by one and added to a player’s record under the previous intentions, thus Doro would now have 17 points after receiving his most recent Grade C. 18 points would result in a three-match suspension, therefore that would definitely be sufficient to earn a two-match penalty.
And there could well be further proof the historical charges will carry over given how Simbiken has been handed a Grade C charge following Castleford’s friendly against Wakefield. The RFL’s disciplinary charges state he has been handed a five-point penalty.
Of course, Simbiken would have no previous charges under the RFL’s guise as he was playing overseas in 2024. It means he is now one point away from a one-match suspension before a ball has even been kicked competitively this year.
The RFL have confirmed that the aspect of carrying historical charges over remains under review, which is why Doro has been given the suspension. However, a decision is due to be made this week on the matter – meaning that if the historical charges are dropped, so too would Doro’s ban.