John Bateman was last night again denied the chance to face rivals Leeds after the rookie Bulls forward was handed a three-match ban for dangerous play.

The homegrown back-rower, 18, was found guilty of a grade D dangerous tackle on Warrington full back Brett Hodgson during the Bulls’ 32-16 Carnegie Challenge Cup defeat by the Wolves last Saturday.

Bateman, who was also fined £300 by the Rugby Football League’s disciplinary committee, will begin his suspension at London Broncos on Sunday and also miss the Magic Weekend clash with Leeds in Manchester on May 27.

He was put on report by referee James Child and the RFL’s match-review panel claimed he “forcefully applied unnecessary pressure to the head and/or neck and/or spinal column of his opponent so as to keep the tackled player at a disadvantage in or after the tackle”.

The ban means Bateman will again miss the chance to face the Rhinos after he was banned for the Good Friday derby win at Odsal.

That followed a two-match ban following a dangerous tackle on Brett Seymour during the defeat to Hull FC on March 30.

Meanwhile, Bulls winger Shaun Ainscough has said he is happy to play in different positions if it means him securing a regular starting berth.

Ainscough has impressed on the flanks in recent outings and also scored a hat-trick during a stint at full back against Doncaster in the Cup.

Ainscough said: “I don’t mind what position I play as long as I’m in the team.”