Case Detail
Case Number:
ON/428/24
Liam Byrne #10, Wigan Warriors
Competition:
Super League
Match:
St Helens v Wigan Warriors
Match Date:
2024-03-29
Incident:
Head Contact
Decision:
Charge
Charge Detail:
Law 15.1 (b)
Head Contact
Grade E
Sanctions:
Refer to Tribunal
Decision On Charge
Player plea:
Guilty
Summary of CM's submissions on the Charge / evidence:
Law 15. 1 (b) Head Contact
• Match Review Panel reviewed an incident in the above match.
• Mr Byrne was dismissed from the field of play following the incident.
• The dismissal report stated the following:
“Mark Percival was in possession of the ball around 15 metres out from his own goal line. Liam
Byrne made direct contact to the head of Percival. It was forceful/dangerous and there were no
mitigating factors, so I dismissed Liam Bryne from the field of play.”
• The footage shows Mr Byrne’s opponent, Mr Percival take a ball carry into contact with Mr
Byrne and is contacted in the head.
• The Match Review Panel deemed this to be forceful and dangerous and that this was high level
of force and danger. For a contact to the head with high level of force and danger, the entry
grading the Match Review Panel submit is a Grade D charge.
• The Match Review Panel do not believe that there were any mitigating factors at play with
regards this incident.
• The aggravating factors are:
o Tackler makes no definite attempt to change height in an effort to avoid the ball
carrier’s head.
o The ball carrier fails a Head Injury Assessment.
• The Match Review Panel believe that the aggravating factors are sufficient to move this to a
Grade E charge.
Summary of Player's submissions on the Charge / evidence:
We agree with the grading and do not seek to challenge it
Last charge 1 match 2021
2 matches for dangerous contact- pre-season October 2022 – guidance is 3 in 24m or 1 in 12m
Prior to that 12th April 2021 – challenge Cup game -
Outstanding record for someone who plays through the middle in his position
There is some lowering of the height
There is a slight change of direction footwork from the ball carrier
Leads with right hand carry with R shoulder coming across – cut his decision time down
Fact he remains wrapped this was a genuine attempt to tackle
Player accepts bad form and grading first incident of head for me so give me a 3 rather than 4 or 5 – if had got lower it could have been worse
Decision:
4 match suspension
Fine is £500 – £750
Reasons for Decision:
It is accepted here that the charge and the grading is correct at Grade E – this would give a range of 3 to 5 matches
We are asked to come down to the lowest suspension 3 matches
Request from the MRP is that this is 4 match given the HIA in particular-
Whilst accept that he has a good record particularly for a forward albeit not unblemished – there are 2 agg features to this offence the first is the fact of the failed HIA and the second is that we do not consider that there was a definite attempt to change height and we consider that an opponent seeking to step is something that should be anticipated
Accordingly we consider that this offence does not fall at the bottom of the range but with a Guilty plea we feel that it falls mid range and is worth a 4 match suspension
Fine is £500 – £750 -