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Hannant keen to let sleeping dogs lie but NRL will investigate
ADRIAN PROSZENKO
April 18, 2010
THE NRL will investigate an alleged religious slur made by Bryce Gibbs against Ben Hannant despite the Mormon forward's desire to leave the matter on the field.
The Bulldogs prop was seething after his side's 24-4 win against Wests Tigers on Friday night. Canterbury trainer Fred Ciraldo had to separate Hannant and his opposing prop Gibbs after their verbal battle continued after the siren.
The Bulldogs released a statement yesterday declaring there would be no formal complaint lodged with the NRL over the incident.
''I have spoken with both the NRL and Wests Tigers CEO Steve Humphreys today and all parties have agreed to leave the matter on the field,'' Bulldogs chief executive Todd Greenberg said.
However, NRL match review boss Greg McCallum confirmed the incident would still come under scrutiny tomorrow morning.
''I would say yes, it would be, because it has happened on the field,'' McCallum said.
Channel Nine has no audio of the incident.
The NRL has shown it is prepared to investigate - and sanction - players for sledging even if the alleged victim wants the matter dropped.
Cronulla back-rower Paul Gallen was fined $10,000 for racially abusing Mickey Paea last year, even though the then-Dragons forward wanted to leave the matter on the field. Melbourne fullback Billy Slater was scrutinised after he taunted Cory Paterson last month over his struggles with depression although the Newcastle forward also refused to make an official complaint.
Slater escaped without a fine after issuing an apology.
''It's like the Billy Slater and Cory Paterson issue, it happened on the field,'' McCallum said.
''While it is still on the field it would be of interest to us, to see where it all sits. No doubt that will happen on Monday morning.''
Gibbs, Hannant and Ciraldo declined to comment yesterday.
A Bulldogs source claimed that most of the abuse was hurled at Hannant during the final scrum of the game.
''The word 'Mormon' was used,'' the insider said.
Humphreys said the club would not punish Gibbs for his role in the spiteful incident.
''No, in the context of a very spirited game with a lot of talk, sledging, banter - whatever you want to call it - there was a lot of that and it came from both sides,'' Humphreys said. ''In the heat of battle some things were said that, in the cold light of day, people regretted.
''I did have a chat to a number of our players, including Bryce, about that. We had a conversation about what was appropriate and the kind of judgment they need to exercise.
''When they are in the heat of the battle, those judgments can be difficult to make.
''We had a general chat about that and they need to be careful.
''The action we took in counselling and talking through the issue was the appropriate action to take.''
Sledging has been a hot topic during the week after Mick Malthouse was fined $7500 for calling St Kilda forward Stephen Milne a ''f–-ing rapist'', a comment the veteran Collingwood coach initially denied making.
ADRIAN PROSZENKO
April 18, 2010
THE NRL will investigate an alleged religious slur made by Bryce Gibbs against Ben Hannant despite the Mormon forward's desire to leave the matter on the field.
The Bulldogs prop was seething after his side's 24-4 win against Wests Tigers on Friday night. Canterbury trainer Fred Ciraldo had to separate Hannant and his opposing prop Gibbs after their verbal battle continued after the siren.
The Bulldogs released a statement yesterday declaring there would be no formal complaint lodged with the NRL over the incident.
''I have spoken with both the NRL and Wests Tigers CEO Steve Humphreys today and all parties have agreed to leave the matter on the field,'' Bulldogs chief executive Todd Greenberg said.
However, NRL match review boss Greg McCallum confirmed the incident would still come under scrutiny tomorrow morning.
''I would say yes, it would be, because it has happened on the field,'' McCallum said.
Channel Nine has no audio of the incident.
The NRL has shown it is prepared to investigate - and sanction - players for sledging even if the alleged victim wants the matter dropped.
Cronulla back-rower Paul Gallen was fined $10,000 for racially abusing Mickey Paea last year, even though the then-Dragons forward wanted to leave the matter on the field. Melbourne fullback Billy Slater was scrutinised after he taunted Cory Paterson last month over his struggles with depression although the Newcastle forward also refused to make an official complaint.
Slater escaped without a fine after issuing an apology.
''It's like the Billy Slater and Cory Paterson issue, it happened on the field,'' McCallum said.
''While it is still on the field it would be of interest to us, to see where it all sits. No doubt that will happen on Monday morning.''
Gibbs, Hannant and Ciraldo declined to comment yesterday.
A Bulldogs source claimed that most of the abuse was hurled at Hannant during the final scrum of the game.
''The word 'Mormon' was used,'' the insider said.
Humphreys said the club would not punish Gibbs for his role in the spiteful incident.
''No, in the context of a very spirited game with a lot of talk, sledging, banter - whatever you want to call it - there was a lot of that and it came from both sides,'' Humphreys said. ''In the heat of battle some things were said that, in the cold light of day, people regretted.
''I did have a chat to a number of our players, including Bryce, about that. We had a conversation about what was appropriate and the kind of judgment they need to exercise.
''When they are in the heat of the battle, those judgments can be difficult to make.
''We had a general chat about that and they need to be careful.
''The action we took in counselling and talking through the issue was the appropriate action to take.''
Sledging has been a hot topic during the week after Mick Malthouse was fined $7500 for calling St Kilda forward Stephen Milne a ''f–-ing rapist'', a comment the veteran Collingwood coach initially denied making.
