Case Number:

ON/0141/24

Ryan Brierley #1, Salford Red Devils

Competition:

Super League

Match:

Leeds Rhinos v Salford Red Devils

Match Date:

2024-02-16

Incident:

Head Contact

Decision:

Charge

Charge Detail:

Law 15.1 (b)

Head Contact

Grade C

Fine:

£250

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 19th February 2024, you are charged with misconduct for a breach of Law 15.1(b) during the above match.

The Panel reviewed an incident which occurred at 13 06 footage time of the above match. In the Panel’s opinion you have contacted the opponent’s head. In the Panel’s opinion they believed your actions to be misconduct and 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 C offence – Head Contact.

The normal suspension range for such offence is from a 1 to a 2-Match suspension.

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

• The player was temporarily dismissed from the field of play.

• The referees report stated that “On approximately 13.10 minutes Brierley hits Croft High. He makes contact with the head, it’s forceful and dangerous but there’s low force. After speaking to my video referee we both agreed to temporarily dismiss Brierley from the field.”

• The MRP in viewing the footage see no reason to disagree with this position.

• For a contact to the head with low level of force, the entry grading the Match Review Panel submit is a Grade C charge.

• As stated, the MRP agree with the referee’s position that there were no mitigating factors present within this incident.

• The aggravating factors are:

- Tackler makes no definite attempt to change height in an effort to avoid the ball carrier’s head.
- The trajectory of the tackler’s shoulder/arm is always going towards the ball carrier’s head.

• The Match Review Panel however do not believe that the aggravating factors are sufficient to move this matter to a Grade D offence and that this incident is worthy of a Grade C charge.

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

Player in attendance alongside Paul Rowley (Head Coach) and Ian Blease (DOR). Player pleads guilty but challenges the grading.

IB explained that the club felt this should be a Grade B charge and they felt there were mitigating factors and referenced point 1 of the Head Contact Sanctioning Framework.

He added that the opponent loses height during the course of a tackle and that RB’s arms are always at a goof height and not at head heigh at any point.

PR then talked then panel through the incident, before RB added his thoughts on it.

Decision:

Guilty plea

Decision On Sanction (where found to have committed Misconduct)

Reasons for Decision:

The Tribunal think that there was a bending of the legs to reduce the height and are also happy that there was a reduction in the height of the opponent.

The Tribunal don’t actually think that it was the tackling of the opponent that caused his height to drop, more likely his tripping over a player who was alongside him. This height was lost within a step and had his height not been lost and there been a slight deflection of Mr Brierley’s arm then there would have been no head contact.

The grading is therefore reduced from a Grade C to a Grade B. The player will not be suspended but will be fined £250.