Workington Town forward Jordan Thomson has been banned for three matches.
It’s a blow to Town who are already operating with a reduced squad through injuries and recent departures.
Thomson pleaded guilty to a Grade D punching charge in the match against Sheffield with the RFL Match Review Panel deciding on the three-match ban.
He will miss Sunday’s trip to Bradford, as well as the following week’s trip to London Broncos and the home game with fellow strugglers Dewsbury Rams on August 21.
Thomson is a popular member of the Workington squad, having signed for Town in November 2020 having started with Hensingham as an amateur before joining Whitehaven.
Town still have six games left, and apart from Featherstone and York City Knights away, will consider they have a chance of improving their points tally in the other four fixtures.
Bradford are out of sorts ahead of Sunday’s game while Dewsbury and Whitehaven at home offer hopes of victories.
The Broncos had also been struggling just above the bottom two before an improved run has carried them six points clear of the relegation zone.