WILL DAGGER, Jordan Thompson and Jesse Dee are all set to miss York Knights’ Betfred Championship season opener against Doncaster later this month.

The trio have all been charged by the RFL following Sunday’s Betfred Challenge Cup exit to Sheffield Eagles.

Both Australian centre Dee and loose forward Thompson were sent to the sin-bin by referee Liam Rush – the latter twice – whilst Dagger was dismissed for a headbutt on his home debut in the closing stages of the first half.

Dagger, who joined the Knights from Wakefield Trinity during the off-season, has been handed a Grade D Headbutt charge, which carries with it a two-match suspension and £125 fine.

He is now set to miss both the Knights’ trip to Doncaster on March 17, and their home Championship opener against beaten Promotion finalists Toulouse Olympique on March 31.

Thompson is also suspended for York’s opening two matches, having received two separate Dangerous Contact charges – one a Grade B and one a Grade C.

His first sin-bin, following late contact on former Knights half-back Anthony Thackeray, has resulted in the Grade C charge, whilst a separate incident on the stroke of half time has been punished by a Grade B caution, though the Match Review Panel note that the contact was at the higher end of the grade.

Dee has also been handed a Grade B Dangerous Contact charge for a late shot on ex-Knights full-back Matty Marsh in the build-up to Matty Dawson-Jones’ try. Again, the Match Review Panel say that the incident was at the higher end of the grade.

The trio now leave head coach Andrew Henderson with a selection headache as his side look to hit the ground running for the new Championship season.

Remarkably, they contribute four of the five charges brought by the Match Review Panel following last weekend’s Challenge Cup fourth round fixtures.

Widnes Vikings’ Lloyd Roby is the only other player to have been charged, receiving a £125 fine for a Grade B Dangerous Throw/Lift during their victory at Bradford Bulls.

The Knights have until Tuesday (March 5) to appeal the bans.