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Rugby League

Saints lose Wilkin to two-match ban

06/02/2007

St Helens will be without Great Britain forward Jon Wilkin for the next two matches after he was found guilty of striking an opponent.

Wilkin was called before a Rugby Football League disciplinary panel after being sin-binned for a high and late tackle on opposing skipper Chris Thorman during his team's 18-10 win over Huddersfield last weekend.

In addition to missing the champions' second and third Super League clashes against Harlequins on February 9th and Wakefield on February 18th respectively, the back-rower was fined £300 after admitting to the charge.

The suspension means that coach Daniel Anderson will be missing four key members of his title-winning squad for the visit of Quins, with Paul Wellens, Lee Gilmour and captain Paul Sculthorpe all absent through injury.

But the Australian was in forgiving mood towards his player in spite of the selection headache he had given him so early in the season.

"It was a careless tackle and he does regret it," he said of Wilkin's indiscretion

The 23-year-old will be back however to face Darren Lockyer's Brisbane Broncos when the Australian National Rugby League side take on the Saints in the World Club Challenge at Bolton's Reebok Stadium on February 23rd.

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