Case Number:

ON/775/22

Tommy-Lee Corke #13, Wakefield

Competition:

Academy

Match:

Wakefield Trinity Academy v Castleford Tigers Academy

Match Date:

2022-04-22

Incident:

Dangerous Contact

Decision:

Charge

Charge Detail:

Law 15.1 (i)

Dangerous Contact - A defending player makes contact with an opponent after the ball has been released by an opponent in a vulnerable position which causes flexion to the head, neck or spinal column on an attacking player, which poses an unacceptable risk of injury to that player.

Grade D

Fine:

£50

Sanctions:

3-5

Decision On Charge

Player plea:

Guilty

Summary of CM's submissions on the Charge / evidence:

Guilty

Following a Match Review Panel meeting held on 28 April 2022, you are charged with misconduct for a breach of Law 15.1(i) during the above match.

The Panel reviewed an incident which occurred at 00:14:49 SharePoint time of the above match. You were penalised following the incident. In the Panel’s opinion you made contact with an opponent after the ball has been released by an opponent in a vulnerable position which causes flexion to the head, neck or spinal column on an attacking player, which poses an unacceptable risk of injury to that player. The Panel believe that your actions were unnecessary, against the spirit of the game and had the potential to injure your opponent.

In accordance with the RFL’s On Field Sentencing Guidelines, the Panel consider that such offence is a Grade D offence in breach of Law 15.1 (i) – Dangerous Contact – A defending player makes contact with an opponent after the ball has been released by an opponent in a vulnerable position which causes flexion to the head, neck or spinal column on an attacking player, which poses an unacceptable risk of injury to that player.

The normal suspension range for such offence is a 3 - 5 match suspension.

• MRP reviewed an incident which took place at 14 49 of the footage time.
• Mr Corke was temporarily dismissed following the incident.
• The footage shows the opponent take a carry into contact.
• Mr Corke comes in as third man and can be seen to take a grip under the opponents’ arms
• Mr Corke holds, then pulls his opponent upwards before losing his feet and dropping down with his opponent to the ground, maintaining the grip.
• This opponents head and neck can be seen to be pressed against his chest thus applying pressure to this area.
• This was fleeting pressure in this instance
• There is potential for such incidents to have life changing injuries to opponents.

Summary of Player's submissions on the Charge / evidence:

The player was not in attendance; however, the club did send in some written submissions. The player pleads guilty.

The player accepts that the challenge does not look good bus assures the panel is was not intended which they believe can be seen by his actions afterwards.

The player accepts the Tribunal have guidance to follow and accepts that he will be punished accordingly but asks for understanding that it was done without intent.

Decision:

Guilty plea

Decision On Sanction (where found to have committed Misconduct)

Summary of CM's submissions on the appropriate sanction:

• Graded D due to;
- Vulnerability of the opponent.
- The highly dangerous action of the player. This is not a recognised tackle technique.
- The potentially serious implications that a tackle of this nature may have. No mitigation that the opponent did not sustain an injury.
- Players have a duty of care to their opponents.

Reasons for Decision:

The Tribunal thank both sides for their submissions.

This was a bad instance of a tackle being made with the player taking hold of the attacking player, pulling that player upwards before dropping down onto him whilst holding his grip.

This was a dangerous “crusher tackle” with the potential for serious injury to a player in a vulnerable position.

The Tribunal are in agreement this was correctly classified as a Grade D offence.

Given the players guilty plea, his inexperience and the matters referred to by Mr Applegarth, a suspension in the middle of the Grade D band is appropriate. Namely, suspension for 4 games together with a £50 fine.

Suspension:

4 matches