Case Detail
Case Number:
ON/330/20
Grant Millington #10, Castleford
Competition:
Super League
Match:
St Helens v Castleford
Match Date:
2020-08-16
Incident:
Dangerous Contact in the 40th minute (Fages)
Decision:
Charge
Charge Detail:
Rule – 15.1(i)
Detail – A defending players makes contact with an opponent after the ball has been released by an opponent in a vulnerable position which causes excessive flexion to the head, neck or spinal column
Grade – A
Sanctions:
NFA-1
Decision On Charge
Player plea:
Guilty but challenging grading
Summary of CM's submissions on the Charge / evidence:
Following a Match Review Panel meeting held on 17th August 2020, the player is charged with misconduct for a breach of Law 15.1(i) during the above Match.
The Panel reviewed an incident which occurred in approximately the 40th minute of the above Match. In the Panel’s opinion the player made contact with an opponent (Fages) whilst in a vulnerable position when not in possession of the ball.
In this incident the Panel believe that the player continues his approach towards his opponent following a kick. The player has an unobstructed view of opponent and the ball but does not adapt following the opponent releasing the ball. There is no reduction in speed or force or an attempt to reduce the impact upon contact. The opponent is in a relaxed, unsighted, vulnerable state and opponents’ s body demonstrates whiplash. There is no attempt to tackle the opponent and a lack of care demonstrated hence the player has been charged with a Grade A.
The Panel believed that the actions were unnecessary and had the potential to cause the opponent injury.
Summary of Player's submissions on the Charge / evidence:
Jon Wells, Director of Rugby spoke on behalf of the player. Mr Wells stated that they do not believe there was much in the incident however does accept that it merits a Caution due to the need to protect players who do not have the ball. Mr Wells states the player has gone into pressure the kicker and does not wrap, due to the obvious size difference between himself and his opponent. On viewing the footage Mr Wells states that the player goes to ground as he is off balance and there is no real whiplash in this instance. Mr Wells highlights a comparable clip involving a Catalans player which received a Caution. Mr Wells states in this instance there is much more force, the ball as been released and there is a clear snap of the opponent’s neck in a whiplash type motion. This incident it is contended is no worse although as set out initially, the player was marginally late and accepts the need to protect players who are unsighted and relaxed.
Decision:
Challenge successful. Reduced to a Caution
Reasons for Decision:
The Tribunal have viewed this incident and are satisfied in this instance that the charge should be reduced to a Caution. The Tribunal have viewed the incident and based on its merits believe it should not be graded at A. The player should have pulled up sooner in the Tribunal’s opinion however do not believe there was a great deal of force in the incident and that a Caution is appropriate in this instance.