Case Detail
Case Number:
ON/1418/23
Micky McIllorum #9, Catalans
Competition:
Super League
Match:
Leigh v Catalans
Match Date:
2023-08-19
Incident:
Late contact on passer (Asiata)
Decision:
Charge
Charge Detail:
Rule – 15.1 (i)
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
Sanctions:
1 Match Penalty Notice
Decision On Charge
Player plea:
Not Guilty
Summary of CM's submissions on the Charge / evidence:
Following a Match Review Panel meeting held on 21st August 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 00 43 06 footage time of the above match. In the Panel’s opinion you made late contact with an opponent (Asiata) who was no longer in possession of the ball. The Panel believed your actions were unnecessary, had the potential for 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 – Behaves in any way contrary to the Spirit of the Game - 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 in the 38th minute.
• The Referee Temporarily Dismissed Mr McIlorum from the field following this contact on Mr Asiata (Leigh).
• The opponent Mr Asiata takes the ball to the defensive line and turns to his left and prepares his body to offload to a Leigh teammate.
• Simultaneously, Mr McIlorum has come of the 10-metre defensive line at pace towards Mr Asiata.
• As Mr Asiata prepares to pass the ball we see no adaptations to Mr McIlorum’ s approach. Mr McIlorum does not make a tackle on his opponent but makes contact on the opponent after the ball has been passed.
• Mr McIlorum makes contact with his arm and chest to the should and back of Mr Asiata, with flexion to the neck occurring as a result of contact.
• There is secondary contact to the head of Mr Asiata as the player falls to ground.
• Mr McIlorum’ s actions are of a reckless nature.
• Grade B due to:
- Reckless approach and lack of adaptations to prevent contact or reduce impact of contact, following offload
- Contact results in flexion of the neck – head rocks back and forward after initial contact.
- Opponent is in a vulnerable position and can in no way mitigate for the actions of Mr McIlorum.
- Player is solely responsible for his actions.
- Potential for injury, namely concussions caused by whiplash-like motions.
Summary of Player's submissions on the Charge / evidence:
Player in attendance alongside Steve McNamara (Head Coach) and Alex Chan (Manager). Player pleads Not Guilty.
SM explained that MM was third third player to be charged with the same offence following the game against Leigh, with the other two players making contact with the opponent 1 second and half a second late. MM’s incident saw him make contact 0.1 second late yet he ended up with a ban.
SM talked through the incident and felt that the opponent took the ball to the line before off loading, this meant it was inevitable that contact was made as MM was committed to the tackle. The MRP agreed that the tackle was not high. Had the ball not been released MM would have made the tackle, but after realising the ball had been released MM moved across to try to affect a tackle on the next attacker. In fact, the MRP had stated that the tackle was only fractionally late.
Decision:
Not Guilty
Reasons for Decision:
In the 38th minute of the Leigh v Catalan match last weekend MM came out of the defensive line and approached the Leigh ball carrier (John Asiata, JA) at speed in order to close him down and exert pressure on him. He made contact with JA very shortly after he, JA, had passed the ball. There was some flexion of JA’s neck in that initial contact and as JA went down there was then some contact with the head.
The MRP decided that that contact was late, that MM had not adapted his positioning as JA passed the ball on in order to ameliorate whatever contact might have been inevitable and had made no real effort to effect a true tackle as opposed to body checking him in the back as JA was passing the ball. The MRP did not attribute any fault to any head contact as JA was going downwards after the initial contact. Therefore, late contact, a Grade B offence and with MM’s disciplinary record a 1-match suspension was appropriate.
MM, supported by his coach Steve McNamara, contends that he is not guilty of this alleged offence. The contact was only “fractionally late” (adopting a description used by the Chair of the MRP, Paul Cullen, to Steve McNamara). MM had no opportunity to adapt his positioning. He was ready to make a tackle as the position of his left arm indicates. It was inevitable that there would be some contact as JA came directly & squarely into the line as opposed to drifting down the attacking line. MM immediately moved away from JA after the contact to be involved in the next tackle down the line. It was inevitable that there would be some contact in these circumstances but that contact was not really late and was not that forceful. It was not unduly high contact. It does not fall foul of Rule 15.1(i).
The Tribunal accepts MM’s contentions and accepts that this contact was not so late as to make him guilty of this alleged offence.
The Tribunal therefore quashes the MRP sanction.