Case Number:

ON/641/23

Matty Lees #10, St Helens

Competition:

Super League

Match:

St Helens V Salford Red Devils

Match Date:

2023-05-13

Incident:

High Tackle

Decision:

Charge

Charge Detail:

Law 15.1 (a)

Strikes – Strikes with elbow/forearm – off ball – reckless.

Grade D

Sanctions:

Penalty Notice removed. Refer to Tribunal.

Decision On Charge

Player plea:

Guilty

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

Following a Match Review Panel meeting held on 15th May 2023, 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 25 50 Opta footage time of the above match. In the Panel’s opinion you have contacted your opponent without the ball. The Panel believed that your actions were unnecessary, have led to an injury and are against the true spirit of the game.

In accordance with the RFL’s On Field Sentencing Guidelines, the Panel consider that such offence is a Grade D offence – Strikes – Strikes with elbow/forearm – off ball – reckless.

The normal suspension range for such offence is 2 to 3 matches.

Referral to Operational Rules Tribunal for determination
Due to the injury report received from the Wigan Club, the Panel have determined not to issue a Penalty Notice in this case and as such the matter will be referred to the Operational Rules Tribunal for determination in accordance with section 3.4 of the On-Field Sentencing Guidelines.

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

• Following a knock on by Mr Lees the ball is loose on the floor.

• Mr Lees can see that the opponent Mr Wright is moving towards the loose ball and contacts him, with his arm contacting the head of Mr Wright.

• The opponent is only focused on making his way to the ball and thus and nor should be prepared for contact by Mr Lees.

• At this point Mr Lees should not be contacting the opponent in any way as he does not have the ball.

• The manner Mr Lees has contacted his opponent is an aggravating feature.

• The actions of Mr Lees contact have directly contributed to Mr Wright losing his balance and sustaining an injury. But for those actions by Mr Lees this would not have occurred.

• The MRP believe that Mr Lees has acted in a reckless manner.

• Grade D due to:
- Clear strike off the ball with the forearm.
- Opponent is not prepared and cannot mitigate against Mr Lees actions.
- Player should not be contacting someone who does not have the ball.
- Nature of contact is an aggravating feature.
- A serious injury has occurred.

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

Player in attendance, alongside Mike Rus (CEO), Paul Wellens (Head Coach) and Nathan Mill (Physio). Player pleads guilty to the charge.

The club sited two examples in recent years where they have had players suffer an injury of six months or more due to foul play and at no stage did the penalty notice get removed or was there even a charge. The club feel that penalty notices can’t be removed for every injury and in the information provided by the opposing club on the injury there is not enough evidence to do so. On the current information, the Club note that they cannot challenge the information provided as no medical practitioner is available to give evidence about questions they have in relation to the incident.

Decision:

Guilty plea

Decision On Sanction (where found to have committed Misconduct)

Reasons for Decision:

The Tribunal have watched the footage and listened to the submissions from both sides.

The Tribunal agree that it would be a help to the Tribunal if they had been provided with the material that substantiates the extent of the injury that has been caused to the opponent following the incident. The Tribunal feel that there’s potential for a serious precedent if they were to make a judgement without that. The Tribunal agree with the Club that they have the inability to challenge the evidence in its current state.

The player is therefore suspended for 2-matches, as this would have been the sanction had the penalty notice not been removed.

Suspension:

2 matches