Wigan Warriors forwards Willie Isa and John Bateman have both been hit with suspensions by the RFL’s match review panel.
Both Isa and Bateman were shown yellow cards on Friday night as Adrian Lam’s side lost to local rivals St Helens at the DW Stadium.
However, the incidents have been scrutinised and although Wigan could appeal, both are due to miss this week’s clash with Leeds Rhinos.
Bateman has been banned for one game for the moment of dissent that saw him sent to the sin-bin for the second time in the contest, with the first yellow card being shown after his coming together with James Bentley.
Isa, though, has been given a four-match penalty notice for two separate charges and is set to miss all but the last game of the regular Super League season, much to the frustration of head coach Lam.
“We’re getting some players back but we’ve got a couple more issues in regards to judiciary, so the challenges just keep on coming,” he told the press on Monday.
“We have to manage the process and make sure we come through positively.
“Isa has been charged on two separate counts totalling four weeks and John Bateman has got one week through dissent.
“It’s been really tough, it’s not ideal that we’ve got two players in this position, considering every week I feel like next week’s the week because we’ll have a full squad to pick from but these little indiscretions keep cropping up and it’s not good enough.
“I’m trying to promote the fact that we need to be disciplined and keep our head and cool because there was a lot of emotion last weekend and obviously that hasn’t been taken into consideration in making these decisions.
“What we can do now is try to have a look at it in depth and see if there’s a case to challenge it.”
On Isa, the head coach added: “I think he has been one of our best players this season, without a doubt.
“Emotion plays a big part in rugby league and I love emotion, I just think he didn’t handle that very well.”
Elsewhere, St Helens' James Bentley has been banned for kicking during the same game.
