Leeds Rhinos head coach Richard Agar has been hit with a fine for comments made about the RFL's match review panel.
Agar received a compliance letter after commenting on a ban received by Alex Mellor in the club's fiery victory over Salford Red Devils in June.
The Rhinos chief had insisted that Mellor had received a fair hearing after being charged for making contact with a match official.
But he pointed out that the panel included two former Leigh players, who the Rhinos were playing the week after. Mellor's appeal ultimately failed and he was forced to miss the game.
Agar said: "We had a fair hearing. There were two ex-Leigh players on the panel and they're sticking to the rules, but I'm not sure it would have knocked the dandruff off his (Hicks') collar - but they are applying the laws."
The RFL have now fined Agar £1,000, half of it suspended, for his comments and is one of three men to receive fines.
Wakefield chief executive Michael Carter has been fined £2,000, with £750 suspended until the end of next year. Carter released a statement on July 14, criticising 'random charges' and stating appealing decisions was pointless because “it’s impossible to win an appeal unless you’ve enough evidence to free Ronnie Biggs”.
Catalans' Alex Chan has received a £500 fine, half suspended, for comments he made following Carter's statement.
An RFL statement said: “The RFL works constantly with clubs on the efficacy of the game’s disciplinary procedures. Those procedures include the right of appeal, and the opportunity for internal feedback.”
