Case Number:

ON/342/21

Matt Nicholson #13, Wigan

Competition:

Academy

Match:

Bradford v Wigan

Match Date:

2021-05-14

Incident:

Late hit on the passer in the 40th minute

Decision:

Charge

Charge Detail:

Law 15.1 (a)
Strikes with hand, arm or shoulder – intentional
Grade E

Fine:

£50

Sanctions:

4-8

Decision On Charge

Player plea:

Guilty Plea

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

Following a Match Review Panel meeting held on 20th May 2021, you are charged with misconduct for a breach of Law 15.1(a) during the above Match.

The Panel reviewed an incident which occurred in approximately the 40th minute of the above Match. You were sin binned following the incident. In the Panel’s opinion you struck your opponent who had passed the ball, late and unnecessarily after the ball had been passed. The Panel believed that your actions were unnecessary and had the potential to cause your opponent serious injury.

In accordance with the RFL’s On Field Sentencing Guidelines, the Panel consider that such offence is a Grade E offence (Strikes with hand, arm or shoulder – intentional). The normal suspension range for such offence is from 4 to 8 matches.

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

Player in attendance with Darryl Goulding, Head of Youth. Darryl Goulding accepted the guilty charge and are not going to plead and accepted all charges.

Darryl pointed out it was Matthew’s first game in 14 months and he was excited to play and the incident happened in the first half on 40 minutes.

Darryl is happy to work with Mathew in the future on his techniques and timing to ensure it doesn’t happen again.

Darryl said that you can see that when Matthew made contact he realised it was wrong and did not follow through with the tackle.

Decision:

Guilty Plea

Reasons for Decision:

Late with the Intention to unsettle not to injure

Decision On Sanction (where found to have committed Misconduct)

Summary of CM's submissions on the appropriate sanction:

• MRP reviewed an incident which took place in approx. 40th minute
• Player was temporarily dismissed following the incident
• MRP were concerned at the manner in which Mr Nicholson makes contact with his opponent.
• Mr Nicholson is a significant distance away from his opponent who has released the ball
• Mr Nicholson does not seek to divert his attention from his opponent
• Mr Nicholson speeds up prior to contacting the opponent
• The case is an Intentional Strike as opposed to Dangerous Contact as Mr Nicholson simply does not have to make contact in anyway with his opponent
• There is significant flexion to the head/neck area of the opponent
• An injury has occurred to the opponent who stays down for a significant period of time
• This contact was intentional and dangerous
• Players have a duty of care to their opponents
• Graded E due to;
- Contact was not inevitable. There was no need to undertake this action
- Forceful contact to a vulnerable opponent
No consideration for the welfare of the opponent

Summary of Player's submissions on the appropriate sanction:

Matthew Nicholson said sorry he understands it is a late hit, hit was a miss timing and with not playing in 14 months his timings was off.

Reasons for Decision:

Late with the intention to unsettle not to injure.

This resulted in the player not being in a position to accept the tackle. Fortunately it was not a serious injury as there was no contact to the head.

It is towards the top of the grade but not at the top because there was no contact to the head.

It was going to be 7 games but reduced to 6 games due to Guilty Plea

Suspension:

6 matches