Case Number:

ON/1458/22

Zac Baker #11, Rochdale

Competition:

League 1

Match:

Rochdale Hornets v Swinton Lions

Match Date:

2022-07-31

Incident:

Dangerous Throw

Decision:

Charge

Charge Detail:

Law 15.1 (d)

Dangerous Throw – lifting player into a dangerous position

Grade D

Fine:

£75

Sanctions:

3-5

Decision On Charge

Player plea:

Guilty

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

Following a Match Review Panel meeting held on 4 August 2022, you are charged with misconduct for a breach of Law 15.1(d) during the above match.

The Panel reviewed an incident which occurred at 00:34:00 SharePoint time of the above match after which you were sin binned. In the Panel’s opinion you lifted your opponent into a dangerous position and the opponent landed on the head/neck area. 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 (Dangerous Throw – Lifting Player into a dangerous position). The normal suspension range for such offence is a 3 to 5 Match Suspension.

• Match Review Panel reviewed an incident which occurred in the League 1 match between Rochdale and Swinton.
• Mr Baker was sin binned following the incident.
• The player is the first man into the tackle and makes good initial contact under the ball.
• Mr Baker then begins to drive upwards lifting his opponent.
• At this point Mr Baker has a hold around the waist with his right arm and picks up the opponents leg with his left arm.
• Mr Baker continues to turn his opponent until the highest point and then releases the grip as both the player and the opponent are coming down to the ground.
• The elbow is pointed at the highest part of the tackle.
• Opponent is twisted and his hips are above his head.
• Opponent lands in a dangerous position. Opponent lands on his upper back and neck.
• Serious risk of injury, due to this dangerous action.
• MRP not suggestion this is an intentional or malicious act.
• This was extremely reckless and dangerous.

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

Player not in attendance but represented by Gary Thornton (Acting Head Coach). Players pleads guilty to the charge.

GT explained the ZB was not an aggressive player by nature and he was a very coachable individual who was of good character.

He felt that he needed help with his tackling technique and this was something he would be working with him on. Whilst this incident was reckless there was no intent to cause injury to the opponent. As coach he felt he had a duty of care to work with the player going forward.

ZB had expressed his remorse for his actions and this tackle was one that he had got wrong due to the second effort involved.

Decision:

Guilty plea

Decision On Sanction (where found to have committed Misconduct)

Summary of CM's submissions on the appropriate sanction:

• Grade D due to:
- Unnecessary nature of the upwards lifting motion.
- Attacker lands in a very dangerous position.
- Player is solely responsible for the position the opponent ended up in the tackle.
- Potential for serious injury.

Aggravating Factors:

28/07/22 – Dangerous Contact (Grade D – 4 matches)
28/04/22 – Dangerous Contact (Grade B – 2 matches)
03/03/22 – Dangerous Contact (Grade C – 3 matches)
08/07/21 – Dangerous Contact (Grade B – 2 matches)

Reasons for Decision:

The Match Review Panel felt that this was a Grade D offence being a Dangerous Throw. The normal suspension range for such behaviour being 3-5 matches. Due to the severity of the incident it was referred straight to the Tribunal for determination.

It could be seen on the footage that the opponent is twisted, his hips are above his head and that he lands in a dangerous position on his upper back and neck area.

The RFL did not suggest that this was intentional or malicious; rather it was reckless and that there was force in the nature of the landing. It was not suggested that this was a continuing throwing motion throughout the tackle.

This was a case of a guilty plea with remorse expressed on behalf of the player via his coach Gary Thornton. Of note the player was not present despite attempts to contact him and an invite to the hearing being sent to him.

It was submitted that this was a reckless act. The technique had gone wrong and this was something that the new coach was hoping to work on with the player in the months to come.

The player had an unenviable record for Dangerous Contact – having four offences since July 2021. In those circumstances despite the guilty plea the Tribunal felt that a 5-match suspension was appropriate together with a £75 fine.

Suspension:

5 matches