Case Number:

ON/1521/24

Tommy Makinson #2, St Helens

Competition:

Super League

Match:

St Helens v Hull KR

Match Date:

2024-08-24

Incident:

Head Contact

Decision:

Charge

Charge Detail:

Law 15.1 (b)

Head Contact

Grade D

Sanctions:

3 Match Penalty Notice and a £250 Fine

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 26th August 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 01 42 14 footage time of the above match. In the Panels opinion you have contacted your opponent in the head and neck 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 D offence – Head Contact

The normal suspension range for such offence is from a 2 to a 3-Match suspension plus a fine.

• Match Review Panel reviewed an incident in the above match.
• Mr Makinson was dismissed from the field of play following the incident.
• The referees report stated that “Tyrone May was in possession of the ball when Thomas Makinson made direct and forceful contact to the head of May with his shoulder. There was no mitigation but there was an aggravating factor that Thomas Makinson was off the floor when the contact was made.”
• The MRP state that the footage clearly shows Mr Makinson contacting his shoulder to the head of his opponent.
• The incident led to the ball carrier leaving for a Head Injury Assessment which he subsequently was found to have passed.
• For a contact to the head with low level of force and danger, the entry grading the Match Review Panel submit is a Grade B charge.
• The Match Review Panel do not believe that there were any mitigating factors at play with regards this incident.

• The aggravating factors are:
- Tackler makes no definite attempt to change height to avoid the ball carrier’s head.
- The trajectory of the tackler’s shoulder is always going towards the ball carrier’s head.
- The tacklers is off their feet when contact is made to the ball carrier’s head.
- Tackler approaches at high speed and is out of control.

• The Match Review Panel believe that the aggravating factors are sufficient to move this to a Grade D charge.

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 TM does not enter contact at speed and that the opponent receives a low pass meaning he loses height. Whilst the club agree that this is poor technique – he tackles with the wrong shoulder – he goes into contact attempting to make a legitimate tackle. TM is not out of control and his feet are on the floor at the point of contact.

This was low level force, with the opponent indicating at the time that he wanted to play on. The opponent passes his HIA and returns to the field. TM is also lower than his normal height.

Decision:

Guilty plea

Decision On Sanction (where found to have committed Misconduct)

Reasons for Decision:

The Tribunal thank both sides for their submissions.

Whilst the panel agree with the MRP that there is no mitigation, they cannot agree that there are the four features of aggravation. After careful examination of the footage the panel feel that the players feet are not off the ground when contact is made to the opponent’s head, as the player had one foot on the floor.

The Tribunal do find that the technique used by the player is poor and that there was significant speed involved which meant the player was out of control. They take into account that the opponent was bent slight, however, significant force was used.

Accordingly, the Tribunal come to the conclusion that this is not a Grace D charge but a Grade C. The player will therefore be suspended for 2-matches.

Suspension:

2 matches