JOE WARDLE will miss the Giants Easter programme.
The 24-year-old back-row forward was last night handed a two-match ban after being found guilty of a high tackle on Remi Casty during Huddersfield’s 46-26 home Super League XXI defeat to Catalans Dragons.
Wardle was also sent off for the challenge in the 49th minute in an act that effectively sealed the Giants’ fate on the day.
And with Wardle missing Friday’s trip to Wakefield Trinity Wildcats and Monday’s John Smith’s Stadium encounter against Salford Red Devils, it means coach Paul Anderson must once again plan for life without one of his main strike weapons, who had already missed the opening four rounds of the 2016 top-flight campaign with a quad-musscle problem.
The utility man, who is equally at home at centre, had made a blockbusting return to action in the 38-6 home triumph to Hull KR 10 days ago, and would have been seen as key to helping Huddersfield collect wins number two and three over the busy Bank Holiday.
But he will now have to wait until the clash at Castleford on Sunday week.
Also last night, Catalans’ Krisnan Inu picked up a three-match ban for his spear tackle that ended Giants prop Eorl Crabtree’s game after 20 minutes, although the Dragons centre was handed only a yellow card.
