2017 Judiciary & Match Review

[Timmah]

http://leagueunlimited.com/news/29480-nrl-announced-judiciary-code-reforms/

A fines system will be introduced for some low-grade offences following an extensive review of the NRL Judiciary system.

Offences including careless high tackles, tripping, contrary conduct and detrimental conduct will now result in a $1500 fine for a Grade One offence, rather than demerit points and possible suspension. Players who accept an early guilty plea will have the fine reduced by 25 per cent.

A Working Group which included representatives of NRL Clubs, the Rugby League Players Association and legal representatives of the NRL Judiciary system unanimously supported a hybrid model which incorporates both fines and points.

Other more serious offences including dangerous throws, shoulder charges, kicking and striking will still result in points penalties for Grade One offences.

"Where a player is involved in dangerous actions they can still expect to spend time on the sideline," NRL Head of Football Brian Canavan said.

"These changes are the result of an extensive review of the previous process and extensive consultation.

"The aim of the Working Group was to find a fairer and simpler system which ensured players would not miss matches for what would be deemed minor offences."

All fines must be paid by the player and the revenue generated by the payment of fines will be reinvested in player wellbeing and education related initiatives.

Players who are charged with three or more offences during the same season will not be eligible to accept a financial penalty. In those circumstances, offences will be converted to a base penalty of 100 demerit points.

Additionally, following the recommendations of the Match Review/Judiciary review, which were endorsed by the Australian Rugby League Commission this week:

• Some offences will now carry lower points, while the base penalty for some offences stemming from careless, reckless or intentional conduct has increased;

• The categories of offences have been streamlined, decreasing from 17 to 12. This is designed to ensure easier explanation and understanding for all;

• Offences will now universally carry three grades, although offences which are deemed to be more serious than a Grade Three offence will be referred directly to the Judiciary Panel;

• Carry-over points will be not added to charges which attract a fine. However, loadings from offences in the previous two seasons will be relevant for calculating penalties;

• The Match Review Committee will be reduced from five panel members to four, with former NRL Coach Stuart Raper joining Michael Buettner, Michael Hodgson and Ben Ross on the panel in 2017;

• The Judiciary Panel will be cut from a nine-person panel to five, and;

• Judiciary hearings will be held on Tuesday nights.

"These changes are designed to both simplify the system and improve consistency across the decision-making of both the Match Review Committee and the NRL Judiciary," Mr Canavan said.

The Working Group which recommended the changes included Bulldogs Coach Des Hasler, Club CEOs Jim Doyle and Graham Annesley, RLPA General Manager Player Relations Clint Newton, Judiciary Chairman Geoff Bellew, former NRL Counsel Peter Kite as well as key NRL officials including Head of Integrity Nick Weeks and Brian Canavan.

"This Working Group researched, documented, explored and then pressure-tested penalties for minor offences across major sporting competitions domestically and across the globe," Mr Canavan said.

"Our benchmarking analysis researched best-practice models from American sports, including the NFL, NBA and MLB, as well as competitions closer to home.

"Importantly, all of these important changes follow extensive consultation with stakeholders - including the Clubs, the Coaches and the Players.

"The result will be a far more streamlined, fairer system which will be easier to understand and appreciate for everyone in the game."

The new system will be in place for the start of the 2017 NRL Telstra Premiership.

 

[Burwood]

So Josh Reynolds gets a grade one charge for tripping, and he is fined about 0.35% of his contract?

Seems reasonable.

 

[KeepingTheFaith]

I don't know why tripping is considered such a low grade offense. Maybe the memory is foggy but it seems to have become more current in the past couple of seasons. Would prefer they stamp it out now rather than letting it continue for a low grade punishment.

 

[Timmah]

I imagine the idea is that a Grade 1 Trip is a grey area where it's hard to prove any legitimate intent

 

[Walt Flanigan]

Much better system. Although, I agree that tripping should be harshly dealt with. I think Grade 1 shoulder charges should be fines too. 200 points is overkill and is just going to lead to more controversy.

 

[AJB1102]

Much better system. Although, I agree that tripping should be harshly dealt with. I think Grade 1 shoulder charges should be fines too. 200 points is overkill and is just going to lead to more controversy.

As long as there is a hint of daylight between your arm and your side, shoulder charges aren't shoulder charges apparently.

Or have they cleared that embarrassment up?

 

[Walt Flanigan]

As long as there is a hint of daylight between your arm and your side, shoulder charges aren't shoulder charges apparently.

Or have they cleared that embarrassment up?

Yeah that's why the heavy loading on a Grade 1 is too much. They can't decide what a shoulder charge actually is so they're just asking for another Wighton/Ennis saga.

 

[Danish]

So how is loading going to work for repeat offenders?

Say a player (we'll just assume its josh reynolds, because of course it will be) just keeps committing and getting hit with "grade 1" tripping, high tackle, and contrary conduct charges all year.

Are we saying now he will never be at risk of missing a game no matter how many of these minor charges he racks up?

The way I read it with no carry over points applying the only thing the loading could do is potentially increase his fine.

I imagine the idea is that a Grade 1 Trip is a grey area where it's hard to prove any legitimate intent

Good in theory but in practice every so called "grade 1" trip committed in the past couple seasons wouldn't have looked out of place in a judo studio.

 

[AJB1102]

So how is loading going to work for repeat offenders?

Say a player (we'll just assume its josh reynolds, because of course it will be) just keeps committing and getting hit with "grade 1" tripping, high tackle, and contrary conduct charges all year.

Are we saying now he will never be at risk of missing a game no matter how many of these minor charges he racks up?

The way I read it with no carry over points applying the only thing the loading could do is potentially increase his fine.



Good in theory but in practice every so called "grade 1" trip committed in the past couple seasons wouldn't have looked out of place in a judo studio.

He will only get away with a fine the first 3 times:

Players who are charged with three or more offences during the same season will not be eligible to accept a financial penalty. In those circumstances, offences will be converted to a base penalty of 100 demerit points.

 

[POPEYE]

As long as there is a hint of daylight between your arm and your side, shoulder charges aren't shoulder charges apparently.

Or have they cleared that embarrassment up?

Rules are meant for smart players to get around and meatheads like JReynolds to get caught by. Josh should study his Pommie captain, he's got the head butt down pat.

All it takes, like the shoulder charge, is a hint of arm contact intent prior to the dastardly deed, fines are for idiots who repeat offend . . . funnily enough Reynolds does far less damage than Graham

 

[Timmah]

Good in theory but in practice every so called "grade 1" trip committed in the past couple seasons wouldn't have looked out of place in a judo studio.

Fantastic generalisation of each individual case there, Danish.

 

[RufusRex]

I want to see an auto 10 in the bin and grade 2 contrary conduct charge for any player that deliberately throws the ball at an opposition player. Ugly/niggle shit that needs to go.

 

[Danish]

Fantastic generalisation of each individual case there, Danish.

I thought so

 

[AJB1102]

I want to see an auto 10 in the bin and grade 2 contrary conduct charge for any player that deliberately throws the ball at an opposition player. Ugly/niggle shit that needs to go.

10 in the bin and 2 weeks on the sidelines for throwing an inflated ball at another footballer.. righto.

 

[Timmah]

http://leagueunlimited.com/news/29486-nrl-clarifies-shoulder-charge-definition/

NRL clarifies Shoulder Charge definition
National Rugby League | February 4 2017 7:46AM

The definition of a shoulder charge has been changed for the 2017 Telstra Premiership to make it clearer and simpler for fans and players.

As part of a change to the Judiciary and Match Review system, a player will be charged if:

• The contact is forceful, and;
• The player did not use, or attempt to use, his arms (including his hands) to tackle or otherwise take hold of the opposing player.

NRL Head of Football Brian Canavan said the amendment clarified and simplified the definition of a shoulder charge.

"This change will make it easier for everyone involved in the game to understand what does and does not constitute a shoulder charge," Mr Canavan said.

"Clearly there were instances in 2016 when the Match Review Committee and the Judiciary had differing views of whether or not a shoulder charge had been used, and that made it difficult for players, Clubs and our supporters to understand the guidelines around the offence."

The change to the definition of a shoulder charge was made following recommendation from the NRL Competition Committee, on advice from the Judiciary Chairman.

The following base penalty points system will now apply:

• Grade One Shoulder Charge: 200 points
• Grade Two Shoulder Charge: 350 points
• Grade Three Shoulder Charge: 500 points

"As a game, we are committed to outlawing the shoulder charge, and we believe these changes will make it easier for us to do so," Mr Canavan said.

"We have undertaken extensive research into the risks of shoulder charges and we will not deviate from our desire to eradicate the practise from the game.

"Should a player make forceful contact and in the process fail to use or attempt to use his arms to do so, he will be charged with a shoulder charge."

For the new table of offences and gradings, please click here.

 

[Danish]

I fail to see how those changes clarify the rule at all. Still very much open for debate and there will be wild inconsistencies with the rule as there has been since its inception.

Why can't they add a clarification that the tackler must actually be advancing towards the ball runner? You know, the actual CHARGING part of a shoulder charge?

Players just bracing themselves when a ball runner tries to run through them will still be pinged under these rules

 

[Knight76]

The whole shoulder charge crap is ridiculous anyway. Let the shoulder charge be legal again. Nothing at all wrong with it.

If we are going to enact rules to rid the game of every dangerous part, may as well all line up in the middle for a hokie pokie off.

Look it's simple, charge in shoulder at the ready, near impact bend your arm out at the elbow "little teapot style", flail at em with the other arm and your all good.

 

[AJB1102]

Oh that really clears it up!

Who's definition of "forceful" are we going to use, and how much of an "attempt" to use your arm/hands is or isn't enough?

Shoulder charge takes the early lead for MRC/judiciary clusterf**k of 2017.

 

[Knight76]

Nah, I think thew captains call rule has got that sealed up. The taters can't help themselves but scream blue murder when a ref gets a decision wrong. It won't matter dick that the captain didn't use his challenge, or didn't have one. I can already see Gould shining his soap box!

Then we roll on with the media banging on about it costing games.

Yep, captains call is odds on.

 

[cooko]

The shoulder charge rule will always be interesting. In my opinion a shoulder charge should be legal but a player should be charged (with a heap of points) if the shoulder makes contact with the head.

It sounds simple enough.