McGoldrick pulled in on pushing charge

Hull's new signing Ryan McGoldrick has been accused of pushing referee Tim Roby during his debut. The Australian utility back, who went into the Hull side within hours of joining from Castleford last Friday, has been charged by the Rugby Football League's match-review panel of making deliberate physical contact with Roby during his side's 21-6 defeat at Headingley. McGoldrick was seen pushing Roby out of the way as he attempted to make a tackle early in the second half.

McGoldrick, who does not have the option of an early guilty plea, will appear before the RFL's disciplinary committee today charged with a grade A offence, which carries a maximum punishment of a one-match ban.

Earlier this season, the Leeds players Brent Webb and Ryan Bailey were both charged with pushing referee Richard Silverwood in a match against Warrington. Bailey was given a three-match ban because he was deemed to have acted aggressively while Webb escaped with a warning and a £300 fine.

Hull's coach, Peter Gentle, insists that the utility back, despite making his debut in difficult circumstances, will improve as he settles in. "He's got lots of experience. We have plenty of youngsters in our side and you need some old heads sprinkled throughout the team," Gentle said. "Ryan has been around the park a few times and I was very confident in playing him and putting him straight out there."