Case Number:

ON/1286/22

Sam Luckley #26, Salford

Competition:

Super League

Match:

Salford Red Devils v Catalans Dragons

Match Date:

2022-07-17

Incident:

Trip

Decision:

Charge

Charge Detail:

Law 15.1 (a)

Trips – Intentional Tripping

Grade B

Fine:

£500

Sanctions:

1 Match Penalty Notice

Decision On Charge

Player plea:

Guilty, but challenge the grading

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

Following a Match Review Panel meeting held on 18 July 2022, you are charged with misconduct for a breach of Law 15.1(a) during the above Match.

The Panel reviewed an incident which occurred at 01:07:50 Opta time of the above match. In the Panel’s opinion you intentionally tripped your opponent. 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 – Trips – Intentional tripping.

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

• The Match Review Panel reviewed an incident which occurred at 01:07:50 Opta time
• In the Panel’s opinion, the player intentionally tripped his opponent
• Against the true spirit of the game and had the potential to cause opponent injury
• Charged under Law 15.1(a) Trips – Intentional tripping (Grade range B-D)
• Panel felt the player sees the offload and knows he is beaten
• Player has a look to the left, sticks his foot out and then raises his foot
• Player’s foot makes contact with opponent and trips him to the floor
• Definition of intention under Operational Rules satisfied
• Graded at B, lowest level for this particular charge
• Player received a 1 match penalty notice due to his good record

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

Player in attendance alongside Paul Rowley (Head Coach) and Ian Blease (Director of Rugby). Player pleads guilty but challenges the grading.

PR explained that his side were facing the seventh consecutive set at the time of the incident and that SL was very fatigued at this point. He added that the Referee had actually called held as the tackle was complete and the ball went back after the off load had happened. PR believed the actions of SL were reactionary.

SL admitted he was guilty of a trip but that he reacted by hanging his leg and arm out as the opponent ran past him. He said it was not in his game to do this kind of thing and was not something he had planned.

IB them informed the panel that the club had a comparison clip (Austin – Warrington v Huddersfield – Grade A) that they would like to introduce. The club felt that this was the same as the SL incident and should be graded as such. He added there was no malice involved by SL and that he had a good previous record.

Decision:

Guilty plea

Decision On Sanction (where found to have committed Misconduct)

Aggravating Factors:

20/01/22 – Dangerous Contact (Grade A – 0 matches)

Reasons for Decision:

It seems to the panel that the issue for them is whether this was a deliberate use of the foot to bring the player down.

In the panels view it was. The player looks to his left and sees the opponent making his way from the tackle with the ball, he then puts out his leg and raises it to stop him.

It may well have been instinctive decision and one taken when fatigued. It may well be one that he would not take again but it was however a decision to bring the opponent down with his foot and was therefore deliberate and intentional.

It has been urged on the panel that it was simply reactionary – almost an involuntary action – however the panel do not accept that.

In respect of the comparable clip the panel think that it was properly graded and was reactionary.

The panel do not think that the challenge to the penalty notice was frivolous or unreasonable in this instance, therefore the player is suspended for 1 match and fined £500. The club will lose the £500 bond.

Suspension:

1 match