Case Number:

ON/242/23

Morgan Knowles #13, St Helens

Competition:

Super League

Match:

St Helens v Hull FC

Match Date:

2023-03-17

Incident:

Late contact on passer

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 B

Fine:

£500

Sanctions:

1 Match Penalty Notice

Decision On Charge

Player plea:

Guilty, but challenge the grading

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

Following a Match Review Panel meeting held on 20th March 2023, 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 1 35 43 Opta footage time of the above match. In the Panel’s opinion you made unnecessary contact with an opponent who had released the ball causing flexion to the head and neck of the opponent. The Panel believed that your actions had the potential to cause injury and are against the spirit of the game.

In accordance with the RFL’s On Field Sentencing Guidelines, the Panel consider that such offence is a Grade B offence – 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 from a fine to a 1 match suspension.

• Match Review Panel reviewed an incident which occurred in the above match.

• Mr Knowles lines up directly in front of his opponent Mr Hoy.

• Mr Hoy takes the ball off the ruck and comes towards Mr Knowles.

• Mr Knowles upon seeing Mr Hoy catching the ball sets off at pace towards his opponent leaving the defensive line.

• Mr Knowles has an unobstructed view of the ball.

• His opponent Mr Hoy does not fully engage his opponent and passes the ball.

• Mr Knowles contacts his opponent after the ball has been released.

• There is significant flexion of the players head/neck area.

• The player has time to ensure he does not make the forceful contact that he does with his opponent. There were no adaptions made by Mr Knowles prior to contact.

• Grade B due to:
- Contact is late.
- Speed at which player approaches opponent leaves no time to moderate behaviour when contacting opponent.
- No attempt to make a tackle.
- Forceful contact shown by movement of opponent’s head.
- Potential for serious injury.

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

Player in attendance alongside Mike Rush (CEO) and Paul Wellens (Head Coach). Player pleads Guilty but challenges the grading.

MR explained that they had looked at incidents over the same weekend and felt there were instances that saw Grade A or even no charge brought against the respective players. He felt the issue was subjective.

MK did not make contact to the head of the opponent and the tackle was not high or dangerous. The club did however agree that it was late.

MR felt that is was not illegal for MK to run at a fast speed out of the line and he has the right to do so. MK made contact a ¼ second after the opponent had released the ball and if you watch footage of any incident in slow motion it looks worse. MK did not swing his arm and did not shoulder charge the opponent. The club feel this was careless and not reckless.

On contact the ball had not reached the opponents teammate and the opponent is expecting contact as both players are facing each other “square on”. The opponent did not need to receive any medical treatment. MR added that collisions are going to happen as part of the game.

PW agreed that the contact was late and the technique used by MK was good should the opponent have remained in possession of the ball. He re-iterated that the club felt this was careless.

MR concluded that the club had thought carefully about whether to challenge the penalty notice. They have had three players suspended already this season and are supportive of the stance the game is taking in relation in these circumstances.

Decision:

Guilty plea

Decision On Sanction (where found to have committed Misconduct)

Reasons for Decision:

The Tribunal confirm at the outset that they completely disregard any conversations that are said to have taken place between the MRP and the club as they are irrelevant to our decision. The Tribunal’s job as an independent panel is to consider the merits of this offence and the submissions that have been made to us. We cannot consider conversations or indeed any other challenges that may or may not have been decided differently by the MRP.

The Tribunal are in agreement that there is clear contact after the ball has gone. Contact is with the shoulder of the player to the upper body of the opponent, who was facing his colleague to whom he had passed the ball.

It is urged upon us that the speed is irrelevant to this charge and that it is only ¼ second between the opponent passing the ball and contact with the player, however, this cannot in our view significantly lessen the seriousness of the offence because it is also submitted that it is that unchecked speed that has led to contact after the ball has gone but which has prevented the player taking any action to prevent significant flexion to the opponent’s head. It is clear to the Tribunal that the player made no attempt to mitigate the contact either by reducing his speed or by altering the way contact was made.

There is a duty to play the game safely – simply continuing at such pace without any attempt to reduce that speed or to alter the method of contact by wrapping his arms or cushioning the contact gives rise to an obvious risk that there could be contact with the opponent who is in a vulnerable position having passed the ball.

Accordingly, we consider this action to be reckless – and the challenge to the penalty notice is dismissed.

The player will therefore be suspended for 1-match as outlined in the imposed Penalty Notice. The player will also be fined £500 and the club will forfeit the £500 bond that was lodged to bring the challenge.

Suspension:

1 match