STEVE Ferres believes Doncaster prop Matt Groat should have been banned for at least eight games for the challenge which has left Lee Gaskell with a broken jaw.

Former NRL star Groat caught Gaskell in the face with an elbow during the second half of the Bulls’ recent 72-6 home win over the Dons.

The Australian was sin-binned and banned for three games after pleading guilty to the Grade D charge of reckless striking.

Gaskell was left concussed and was replaced, forcing him to miss last weekend’s win over Dewsbury, and he is expected to be out for up to eight weeks.

Bulls managing director Ferres said: “The Doncaster player has hit Lee off the ball and left him concussed, which meant he had to leave the field and could play no further part in the game.

“He’s going to be out for more weeks than what Groat will be banned for, and I find that unfair and wrong.

“You can’t allow people to go around doing that sort of thing. The game is probably tougher now than it has ever been because of the collisions.

“But there are also more cameras and when video evidence clearly shows an off-the-ball incident which concusses a player, that alone should be a minimum of eight weeks for me.”

The Bulls have not disclosed how long they expect Gaskell to be sidelined for but it is hoped the playmaker will return to action ahead of the middle-eight play-offs.

Ferres said there were no plans to bring in a short-term replacement for Gaskell, who had played every game this season until being poleaxed by Groat.

Ferres added: “We’re not looking to bring anyone in at the moment.

“Harry Siejka looks like he will be good to go this weekend against Workington and is likely to play.

“That gives us someone to get us round the field and we’re not panicking because we don’t need to.

“Yes, we didn’t play well against Dewsbury last weekend but then we didn’t play well at Batley either.

“In both instances, you’ve got to credit the opposition because Leigh and ourselves are the teams to be shot down.

“We’ve got to handle that and to be fair I think both clubs are doing so but every game leading into the middle eights is going to be difficult.

“We’ve got to deal with that and I think we have been dealing with it well.”

The RFL disciplinary panel for Championship clubs does not convene until a week after every round of fixtures.

That is in contrast to the disciplinary process for Super League clubs, whereby players are charged on the Monday immediately after the weekend and their cases heard the following day.

Ferres said: “I don’t see why we have to wait for a week. They should be done on the Tuesday, as they are in Super League.”

The Bulls are expected to retain the bulk of the squad for next season and contract talks are currently underway with a number of players.