The NRL match review committee has become the code’s biggest farce.
Canberra’s David Shillington has somehow escaped a penalty for an attempted head butt on Tigers’ prop Aaron Woods and is free to play against Manly this Sunday.
Shillington was sent from the field by referee Jared Maxwell in 79th minute of Monday night’s thriller at GIO Stadium.
His attempt did not connect and he was subsequently charged with a grade one contrary conduct offence. With such a grading, an early guilty plea means he won’t miss a single game.
The prop’s Houdini-like escape has angered rugby league fans around the nation as head-butting is one of the most serious misdemeanours that can be committed on a football field.
I share the fans’ anger.
It wasn’t as if the Canberra player’s actions weren’t picked up by the cameras. The attempted head butt was there for all to see and the referee took decisive action, waving him from the field.
A send-off is a rarity in the NRL these days, and it was reasonable to assume that the guilty party would be handed a three or four-match penalty. But even though the guilty party’s blow failed to connect, there was definite intent, yet he copped nothing.
What kind of message are the match review people sending with such a lenient charge?
And there are many more questions that demand answering.
Is it okay to launch one’s head and 111kg frame at an opponent because you are frustrated at the match score or the opponent is giving some lip? Will youngsters who saw this blatant and serious act imitate the first grade star this weekend? Did Shillington cop a mere slap on the wrist because he is widely regarded as a ‘good bloke’ and is not rated among the NRL’s so-called bad boys? Would the penalty be the same if the incident happened the week before the NRL grand final?
I do not have the answers, but I’d love to hear an explanation from the match review panel members. But you can bet that won’t be happening, as seems to be the case with almost all matters concerning the judiciary.
The whole judiciary process in rugby league has become a laughing stock. One week Kane Evans commits an illegal shoulder charge and gets off scot-free. The following week, Willie Mason stands his ground, gets charged and cops a two-week suspension.
There is zero consistency coming from the code’s judicial powers. I have more faith in TV weather forecasters and racehorse tipsters.
Jamieson Murphy
Roar Guru
It's too late for this season, but before next season starts Dave Smith needs to sit down and make the judiciary consistent in their rulings.
Christov
Guest
Couldn't agree more. The send off was sufficient punishment in my opinion.
The Barry
Roar Guru
Conspiracy
db
Guest
In Origin 3, Klemmer delivered a headbutt every bit as bad as Shillington's efforts. Not a word was said about it during or after the game.
Johnnyball
Guest
Don't worry Eaglejack, a player will look down next week to see where the ball is and be had up for head butting. Just kidding but an over reaction on the way. Just turn the game into tag and be done with it, or maybe a foam mat will have to cover field in case somebody trips and skins a knee. The game is not fading because of not going to the bush, it is fading because it is just not League anymore. First time ever I could not care less who wins the comp.
The Barry
Roar Guru
Conspiracy
Bear Bowman
Guest
What about Jason Bukuya's blatant shoulder charge on Michael Morgan...no penalty and not even reviewed it appears by the match review committee and it was a lot worse than Willie Masons...so many inconsistencies!!!
Snorky
Guest
"Will youngsters who saw this blatant and serious act imitate the first grade star this weekend?" No, they wont, because they saw he got sent off for it. Not put on report and allowed to keep playing. Will youngsters who saw Woods sarcastically congratulate Shillington on making an error, imitate this needless, cowardly, weak and now all too often taunt? You bet.
geoff evans
Guest
Yes it was a headbut. Actually the first one hit Woods in the chest and the second one hit him on the face. As the League has said it doesnt matter if the action hurts a player or not it was still 2 headbuts. Masons cuddle did not hurt anyone and the Grub Burgess took a dive. Not worth a suspension.
At work
Roar Rookie
Aaron Woods didn't seem too fussed about it, he had smirked and kind of hugged Shillington
Alvin Purple
Guest
Was it really a head butt? Maybe yes but as far as any damage it was not likely to hurt a fly. Yes I know it does not matter but please if we are going to carry on about this then really the game is going well.
At work
Roar Rookie
The Barry is right on the mark here, I agree!
Tim Prentice
Expert
No Griffo, he cannot appeal now that he has accepted two weeks.
The eye
Guest
I still can't get over L Ahma putting Snowy out for 2 games and escaping suspension..nothing makes sense
Griffo
Guest
Is there any way Willie Mason can appeal this. I remember in the AFL last year Jack Viney for Melbourne copped a suspension for a head high bump. He was able to appeal and successfully argued that he was bracing for impact. His opponent suffered a substantial injury but it was deemed he did nothing wrong.
GPR
Guest
Willie Masons "shoulder charge" is the most ridiculous suspension I have seen yet. Evans pulled off a blatant shoulder charge and gets nothing, because they let him off for uncle Nick they go and make exceptions of Matulino and Mason. I'm a Dragons fan but thought Matulino should of got one week at the most.
Griffo
Guest
But an attempted high tackle or even an actual high tackle can be argued as an attempted legal tackle that didn't hit the mark. There is no good explanation for an attempted headbutt.
Kaks
Roar Guru
I dont think the NRL, the match review committee, the players or the referees know what the rules are anymore. David Smith is running league well - as a business. Doesnt mean we should be losing sight of the sport.
astro
Guest
It's also apparently okay to now not play the ball correctly, and just roll it between your legs. During the Roosters and Knights game, it happened almost once every set from both teams.
Kris Swales
Expert
Even more laughable when you consider BJ Leilua copped a week for a shoulder charge that was innocuous at worst - and I'm a Raiders fan.