Leeds Rhinos news: Lachie Miller appeal verdict reached over 3-game ban
The verdict has been announced on Leeds Rhinos star Lachie Miller’s appeal against a three-match ban.
A tribunal today (Tuesday) rejected the full-back’s not guilty plea to a grade E charge of “unnecessary contact with a player who is injured or may be injured” during last Friday’s 24-4 loss at Wigan Warriors. Miller was given an additional five penalty points for the failed appeal, plus a £1,000 fine and Rhinos lost their appeal bond.
Miller will miss Friday’s visit of Huddersfield Giants, the home clash with St Helens two weeks later and Rhinos’ fixture at Toulouse Olympique on Friday, June 12. Leeds coach Brad Arthur has confirmed 20-year-old Fergus McCormack will make his Betfred Super League debut as Miller’s replacement this week.
The suspension is a blow for Rhinos and Miller, who was in first place when the initial five-man shortlist for the Man of Steel award was announced earlier this month. He leads Super League for carries, metres and tackle busts.
Speaking before the appeal, Rhinos coach Brad Arthur said: “He is playing really well. In a team who weren’t fantastic the other night, I thought Lachie again was extremely good for us.
“He had 65 touches or something - for a full-back that’s huge - and close to 300 metres and 14 tackle-breaks. What people don’t know is he was crook all week, he hardly trained. I didn’t think he was going to get off the bus, he was that sick. He came in half way through the warm-up and I’ve got a good relationship with Lachie, I just looked at him and he said ‘I’ll be all right’. That’s all he needed to say to me.
“It is disappointing for Lachie, but it just opens up an avenue for someone else and we are going to give young Fergus an opportunity to play full-back.”