Shocked Joe Vagana is hoping to clear his name and have a first-ever ban overturned.

The long-serving Bulls prop tonight got hit with a two-game suspension and £300 fine by an RFL disciplinary panel.

Vagana was sent off for an illegal use of the forearm after allegedly running into Wakefield's Luke George with his elbow on Sunday.

It is the first blemish in the popular player's 15-year professional career but the club are set to appeal the ruling tomorrow evening.

Vagana pleaded not guilty after Bradford provided photographic evidence that his elbow never made contact.

He said: "I'm obviously disappointed with the verdict. With all the evidence we had, I was pretty confident I'd get off and so was everyone else.

"The panel had other ideas but we've got round two tomorrow and hopefully that will go better."

The giant Kiwi, one of the most respected players in Super League, was stunned when Steve Ganson dished out an immediate red following the almighty collision just before half-time.

Vagana said: "I was shocked. I didn't think I'd done anything wrong. Later I was in the changing room asking people what I could do.

"I didn't know if I could go back out on to the touchline, where I was allowed to stand or anything as it was all new to me.

"I've never been red-carded or even sin-binned and then it slowly sank in: I've just been sent off."

Vagana, 32, added: "I was proud of my clean record, especially playing in one of the toughest positions.

"I don't think there's too many front-rowers out there with anything similar so it was really disappointing to lose it.

"Not only that though, I was more worried I might cost the team victory.

"I owe them a lot for the way they dug in. They were amazing and I just want to get back out there to start repaying them."

The injury-hit Bulls were only 16-12 ahead at the break and facing a testing second half down to 12 men in searing heat but they pulled off a remarkable 38-24 triumph.

In-form Vagana, who has only missed one game all season, will sit on the sidelines for Sunday's trip to Hull KR and the visit of Huddersfield unless the decision is overturned, adding to Steve McNamara's mounting selection problems.

Meanwhile, Leeds' Brent Webb earned a four-match ban and £600 fine for two reckless high tackles against Harlequins, meaning the New Zealand full back misses the crunch game at Odsal on September 2.

Hull KR prop Makali Aizue was handed a one-match suspension for a careless high tackle versus Salford so he will not face the Bulls on Sunday.

  • Start or join a debate on this issue in our online forum - Click here