Case Number:

ON/1832/22

John Bateman #13, Wigan Warriors

Competition:

Super League

Match:

Wigan Warriors v Leeds Rhinos

Match Date:

2022-09-16

Incident:

Strikes

Decision:

Charge

Charge Detail:

Grade D

Fine:

£500

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 19th September 2022, you are charged with misconduct for a breach of Law 15.1(a) during the above match.

The Panel reviewed an incident which occurred at 01.14.16 Opta time of the above match. You were dismissed following the incident. In the Panel’s opinion you struck your opponent in the head after he had kicked the ball. 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(a) – Strikes – hand, arm or shoulder – reckless

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

• MRP were concerned at the manner in which Mr Bateman makes contact with his opponent.
• The player was dismissed following the incident.
• Mr Sezer takes the ball to the line and kicks the ball through.
• Player is late in making contact.
• There is no attempt to wrap the arms around and make a legitimate tackle.
• There is clear contact with the head of the opponent. The MRP submit this is direct contact from the players shoulder/upper arm.
• Referee confirms direct contact with the head in his report and has no hesitation and dismisses the player.
• There is a high level of force in the contact demonstrated by the movement of Mr Sezer’s head.
• Players have a duty of care to their opponents.
• Head injuries are a serious point of concern for all involved in contact sports and players have to be deterred from making contact with the heads of opponents.
• MRP felt that there was no effort to grab, wrap or tackle Mr Sezer and as such categorised this as a Grade D reckless strike.

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

The player was in attendance alongside Shaun Wane (Director). Player pleads guilty.

SW informed the panel that JB was an aggressive and physical player. He had a good previous disciplinary record and was a leader for the team who would be picked to play for England in the forthcoming World Cup.

He added JB was a strong character who following the incident had felt he had let his teammates down after leaving them a man down for the final 30 minutes of an important play-off game.

The club would accept the ban that would be handed down by the Tribunal and it would come at a cost to the player ahead of the World Cup. JB got it wrong in this instance, but the club feel the suspension should be towards the lower end of the grading.

JB knew straight away he had got the tackle wrong and immediately showed remorse for these actions. He admitted he was rightly dismissed.

JB informed the panel this was not an intentional act and that he was trying to tackle the opponent. He was good friends with the opponent having played with him in the NRL

He added he checked on his welfare straight away and had spoken to him both after the match and again during the week.

Decision:

Guilty plea

Decision On Sanction (where found to have committed Misconduct)

Reasons for Decision:

The Tribunal determined that the player should be suspended for 3-matches and ordered to pay a £500 fine.

The Tribunal felt that the player had a good disciplinary record when compared with the manner in which he played the game. He had pleaded guilty and expressed his remorse straight away after the incident on the pitch and, the Tribunal were told, after the game and thereafter ensuring that his opponent was recovering.

Suspension:

3 matches