Huddersfield forward Kenny Edwards has been banned for 10 matches after being found guilty of poking an opponent up the bum.
The New Zealand-born 31-year-old was handed a grade F charge of “contrary behaviour” following Thursday’s clash with his former club Catalans.
Edwards publicly defended himself and pointed out his long-term friendship with Kasiano, who had also supported him in reports in Australia.
But the RFL disciplinary ruled against the former Parramatta player, and handed him a ban two matches longer than the minimum eight required for his charge.
The grade of the charge was found to be correct by the Independent Tribunal and Edwards was also handed a £500 fine.
It rules the 31-year-old out for the majority of the year at a time when the Giants say they had 20 players unavailable for Tuesday night’s cancelled game with Castleford.
That was awarded as a 24-0 win to the Tigers, and this is another blow in what has become a troubled campaign for Ian Watson’s squad.
Huddersfield have won just three times in 12 games despite being tipped as competition dark horses before the season kicked off.
