Case Number:

ON/841/22

Thomas Doyle #9, Bradford

Competition:

Championship

Match:

Whitehaven RLFC V Bradford Bulls

Match Date:

2022-05-01

Incident:

Dangerous Throw

Decision:

Charge

Charge Detail:

Law 15.1 (d)

Dangerous Throw – Lifting player into a dangerous position

Grade B

Sanctions:

1 Match Penalty Notice

Decision On Charge

Player plea:

Guilty, but challenging the grading

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

Following a Match Review Panel meeting held on 5 May 2022, you are charged with misconduct for a breach of Law 15.1 (d) during the above match.

The Panel reviewed an incident which occurred at 00:30:06 SharePoint footage time of the above match. In the Panel’s opinion you lifted your opponent into a dangerous position. The Panel believed that your actions 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 Throw – Lifting player into a dangerous position.

The normal suspension range for such offence is from 1 to 2 matches.

• MRP reviewed an incident which took place at 30 06 of the footage time.
• The footage shows Mr Doyle come into contact with his opponent with 2 other Bradford teammates
• Mr Doyle goes to lift a leg and his teammate lifts a leg at the same time.
• At this stage the opponent is lifted into a dangerous position by both Mr Doyle and his teammate
• Mr Doyle at this stage lets go of the leg and his opponent continues with the lift
• This is not an attempt to tackle.
• The opponent is vulnerable as both legs are off the floor at the point of contact.
• Mr Doyle is partly responsible for getting the opponent into that initial position.
• There is potential for such incidents to cause serious injuries to opponents.

In response to the comparison clip (Parcell – Hull KR v Huddersfield – Grade A) the CM explained that the opponent fell out of the grasp of the player and that his teammate who was “on top” of the tackle was not in control.

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

Player in attendance alongside Mark Dunning (Interim Head Coach). Player pleads guilty but challenges the grading.

MD explained that whilst TD did lift the opponent’s leg he let go as soon as he realised that the tackle could do wrong and was at a point of danger.

A teammate was involved in the tackle and the communication between them was not good enough. This meant the tackle ended the way it did and the teammate has rightly been suspended.

The club then introduced a comparison clip (Parcell – Hull KR v Huddersfield – Grade A).

MD explained he felt this tackle was a worse example of a Dangerous Throw and had only been charged at Grade A. In this instance the player stays in contact with his opponent and throws his to the ground.

Decision:

Guilty plea

Decision On Sanction (where found to have committed Misconduct)

Summary of CM's submissions on the appropriate sanction:

• Graded B due to;
- Vulnerability of the opponent.
- Reckless, not careless. Player did not need to lift a leg to that position to complete the tackle.
- Players have a duty of care to their opponents.

Reasons for Decision:

The Tribunal thank both sides for their submissions.

Having watched the footage the Tribunal are in agreement that whilst TD did lift a leg he also let go when he realised there was potentially some danger.

The Tribunal’s attention was then drawn to the comparison clip which was brought by the club. The Tribunal are persuaded by the club’s argument that TD’s culpability was less than that of his teammate, and taking into account the comparison clip the panel are unanimous that this incident should be downgraded to Grade A. This therefore means the players penalty notice is reduced to a 0 match suspension.

Suspension:

0 matches