Sao was involved in two controversial moments last weekend against Warrington Wolves
Ligi Sao in action for Hull FC (Image: SW Pix)
Andy Last admits he was ‘stunned’ to see Ligi Sao escape a charge from the Match Review Panel this week.
Sao was sin-binned for a high tackle in the loss to Warrington Wolves on Saturday while he was also involved in what looked to be a hip drop incident.
The video referee recommended that Sao be sent off during the game, only for the Hull man to be shown a yellow by on-field referee Chris Kendall.
The expectation was that Sao would be banned this week by the disciplinary panel with Last voicing that fear himself moments after the contest at the MKM Stadium.
But, when the news dropped on Monday afternoon, Joe Batchelor was the only Hull man listed, with the second-rower being sanctioned for making head to head contact with Arron Lindop.
“I was surprised when the news dropped and there was no Ligi Sao on there,” Last said. “I was a little bit stunned to be honest.
“Glad that obviously Ligi didn’t suffer any suspensions or fines or bans. I’m just a little bit disappointed for Batch.
“I don’t think it was malicious, but it’s just unfortunate that it happened in the first 15 seconds of the game. Both players are travelling at speed.
“There’s mitigation there that both players were lower, Lindop lowered to embrace contact and Batch lowers so it’s head on head, Lindop gets a HIA and that straight away makes it a Grade D.
“It was difficult to even appeal because it’s head on head contact. He’ll be missed because he does a lot of work for us.”
Hull will be without Batchelor for the remainder of the season then and he’ll be joined by Cade Cust on the sidelines, too, with Cust’s season being ended prematurely with a shoulder injury.
There is some hope that Zak Hardaker will be fit enough to return next week for what will be FC’s last game of the season.
“Zak potentially, he’s ran today,” Last said on players who could return next week. “Hopefully there won’t be any significant soreness tomorrow but we won’t be seeing Cade again.
“He’s been to see the specialist, he’s been told six to eight weeks to rest that shoulder up. He’s played his last game for us this season.”