Case Number:

ON/803/19

Joel Tomkins #11, Hull KR

Competition:

Super League

Match:

Salford v Hull KR

Match Date:

2019-05-26

Incident:

Dangerous Contact in the 16th minute (Inu)

Decision:

Charge

Charge Detail:

Rule – 15.1(i)
Detail - Defending player, in or after effecting a tackle, uses any part of his body forcefully to bend or apply unnecessary pressure to the head and/or neck and/or spinal column of the tackled player so as to keep the tackled player at a disadvantage in or after the tackle.
Grade – B

Fine:

£500

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 27th May you are charged with misconduct for a breach of Law 15.1(i) during the above Match.

The Panel reviewed an incident which occurred in approximately the 26th minute of the above Match. In the Panel’s opinion during making a tackle you applied unnecessary pressure to the head and/or neck of an opponent (Inu). The Panel believed that your actions were unnecessary and had the potential to cause your opponent injury.

In accordance with the RFL’s On Field Sentencing Guidelines, the Panel consider that such offence is a Grade B offence (Dangerous Contact - Defending player, in or after effecting a tackle, uses any part of his body forcefully to bend or apply unnecessary pressure to the head and/or neck and/or spinal column of the tackled player so as to keep the tackled player at a disadvantage in or after the tackle.) The normal suspension range for such offence is from a 1 – 2 match suspension.

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

Player accompanied by Head Coach Tim Sheens and Chairman Neil Hudgell.

Player pleads not guilty to dangerous contact. The opponent was put into this position by another player in this three-man tackle. Player indicates he was initially bumped off by the opponent. Then locked onto opponent and was trying to hold him up with a teammate twisting opponents’ body whilst trying to take him to the ground.

As soon as player realises that pressure is being applied he releases the pressure by taking his right shoulder upwards to release the opponents neck. Opponent is rotated and taken to ground by another player who is in the tackle. Danny Maguire drives him over.

The player has his knee on the ground and releases the opponent as soon as he realises there is pressure on the opponents’ neck. A challenge is made as to the level of the grading at Grade B. In support of this challenge reference is made to a challenge by James Roby who was also charged with a dangerous contact offence of pressure on an opponents’ neck. In this instance the tackling player was the only player in the contact. On contact and when pressure was applied both his feet were clearly off the ground. This type of execution has the potential for serious injury this was graded at Grade A.

In comparison in this tackle there were two others involved and who contributed to taking the opponent to the ground. This was graded at Grade B it is felt that in maintaining consistency within the guidelines that this offence should have been Grade A. As soon as the player realised some pressure had been applied he apologised to the opponent on the field.

Decision:

Guilty

Reasons for Decision:

The Tribunal have taken into account the submissions made by the player and his representatives and watched the footage on numerous occasions.

This Tribunal are satisfied that this player failed to release his grip on the opponent quickly enough during this tackle. The player maintained contact for a number of seconds longer than he needed to and this tribunal feel that he had the opportunity to adjust his grip before the opponent went to ground.

This Tribunal are satisfied that undue pressure was placed on the opponents’ head/neck and the case against this player is proven.

Decision On Sanction (where found to have committed Misconduct)

Summary of CM's submissions on the appropriate sanction:

The reasons for the grading at Grade B are:
• MRP were concerned at the manner in which Mr Tomkins completes the tackle.
• Player adopts grip following being bumped off initial contact
• Secondary grip is that which sees Mr Tomkins left arm under hooking the opponent’s body. The right arm creates a headlock like contact on opponent.
• Opponent’s head is tight to Mr Tomkins arm and body
• Player attempts to rotate the upper body of opponent with the grip
• Tight grip is maintained throughout contact
• Player is part of a three-man tackle who all have a responsibility in the opponent going to ground
• Player does not release the right arm grip which would allow sufficient space for head of opponent to come through contact
• Opponents head is clearly in a dangerous position and forcefully springs out of the contact, demonstrating the level of pressure applied
• Defenders have a duty to avoid making Dangerous Contact and on this occasion Mr Tomkins has failed in that duty
• MRP felt Grade B was appropriate

Summary of Player's submissions on the appropriate sanction:

Contact was careless and not reckless. The player apologised to his opponent on the field and there was no intent to cause injury.

Aggravating Factors:

25/02/19 – Dissent (2 matches)
13/06/19 – Dangerous Throw (N/A)
15/03/19 – Striking (2 matches)
11/02/19 – Dangerous Contact (Caution)
09/02/15 – Other Contrary Behaviour (Caution)

Reasons for Decision:

The Tribunal note that the grading of this offence has been challenged by the player and his representatives during their submissions and comparable clip involving James Roby.

This Tribunal feel that this type of contact has the potential for serious injury and was correctly graded at Grade B. They are satisfied that this challenge to the grading was acceptable and not a frivolous challenge.

This Tribunal are satisfied that a 1 match suspension and a £500 fine are appropriate in this instance. The Tribunal feel that the grading in the comparable clip should not have been graded at Grade A.

Suspension:

1 match