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@Snake said:The litigation flood gates will open soon and swallow the NRL …can not preach the protection of players heads and do nothing about it , The NRL are fools thinking this is not around the corner .
@tigers2005 said:@hobbo2803 said:@foreveratiger said:http://www.nrl.com/bizarre-scenes-as-james-avoids-nrl-ban/tabid/10874/newsid/100368/default.aspx
Bizarre scenes as James avoids NRL ban
Wed 17 Aug, 2016, 7:25pm
By James MacSmith, AAP
EMAIL PRINT
Bizarre scenes as James avoids NRL ban
Ryan James was found not guilty at the NRL judiciary and will be free to play this week. Credit: Charles Knight. Copyright: NRL Photos.
Gold Coast forward Ryan James has been found guilty of a high tackle on Wests Tigers fullback James Tedesco, but has escaped suspension after successfully arguing for a downgrade.
In bizarre scenes on Wednesday night at the NRL judiciary at Rugby League Central, James was found guilty of a grade-two careless high tackle which broke Tedesco's jaw in the Titans' win on Saturday at Campbelltown.
However, James' defence counsel Jim Hall then argued for a downgrade, but only after the prompting of panel member Royce Ayliffe.
"Hang on - we have only found him guilty," Ayliffe said after the verdict was read out by fellow panel member Mal Cochrane.
The panel of Ayliffe, Cochrane and Chris McKenna then promptly awarded the downgrade, meaning James is free to play in the Titans' round-24 clash with Newcastle on Saturday at Hunter Stadium.
James, who is one of the NRL's most-penalised players, has 90 carryover points to contend with.
Titans coach Neil Henry, who sat next to James throughout the hearing, spoke on behalf of his prop after the hearing.
"We came down here, thinking the speed at which it happened (meant) it wasn't a careless action by Ryan," Henry said.
"The judiciary said it was on the lower end of carelessness. They took into account how fast the action happened and the fact Tedesco was dropping.
"We had a fair hearing. We're disappointed in one regard. But the speed these things can happen at in the game means there was no malice on Ryan's behalf."
In giving evidence, James said he didn't have time to adjust to Tedesco "dropping in the tackle".
"I was running and trying to catch him in the tackle and run him back a little further," James said.
"I dropped my body level … I couldn't have done anything else to avoid collision."
However, James said he did take his eyes off Tedesco just before impact.
Judiciary prosecutor Peter McGrath seized on that as an admission of carelessness.
"In the context of a rugby league game player, Tedesco did not drop dramatically," he said.
"Taking his eyes off player Tedesco is where the carelessness lies.
"Player James did not show the special duty of care required to avoid contact with the head.
"The contact was not accidental. It was not unavoidable."
Defence counsel Jim Hall said the contact was accidental.
"I would suggest player James didn't have the time to change his tackle after player Tedesco turned and dropped."
What a load of crap !
Tedesco dropped cause he knew he was about to get belted ….
And still got belted !
The NRL stepped in to protect kickers by making it illegal to tackle their legs after they kick. I think they need to step in and protect fullbacks who are so courageous yet have to sit their like lame ducks and take dog hits. Instead of sending out a message that the onus is on the chaser not to make contact with the fullback , they have done the complete opposite. what a joke!!!!
@LARDS said:They only applied for a downgrade after being prompted by the judiciary member. This is not incompetence. Its prejudiced and corrupt ie rigged.
Don't complain to toddy . He's the puppeteer.
@Juro said:Of course Tedesco was dropping to the ground. You see this so many times in games where the player is catching a bomb. He drops quickly to the ground as an act of self preservation. Apparently Ryan James and the judiciary have never noticed this before, and it caught them all by surprise.
W! T! F!
@Newtown said:How about a rule that requires a tackler to remain 5 metres away from an opposing player who is attempting to field a bomb. I am sure that there was a similar rule (downtown rule?) in play as recently as the late 1980's. At the very least there should be a rule that enforces the tackler from a bomb be a certain distance from the player who has put up the bomb.
@Curaeus said:A cowardly assault on a defenceless player aided and abetted by an inept NRL. Not a surprise James, a player with plenty of prior foul play form, virtually gets off with a downgrade the GC weren't initially even asking for and doubtless wouldn't have pursued but for the helpful assistance of the judiciary after finding this grub guilty as charged!
@barra said:Make no mistake, his arm was swung late in the contact - clenched fist or not.
@Nelson said:@LARDS said:They only applied for a downgrade after being prompted by the judiciary member. This is not incompetence. Its prejudiced and corrupt ie rigged.
Don't complain to toddy . He's the puppeteer.
That's fairly standard procedure in courts and tribunals. After guilt is determined there is a determination of penalty. Given that the submission on behalf of James was that he was not careless at all it would have been obvious to them that his counsel should contest the grading.