Dargons Fined $5000 by NRL for Brown-Barrett Incident

[imported_Noodles]

Just heard on the radio that the Dragons have been fined $5000 for Brown slapping Barrett.

What a joke.

The NRL should only ever step in to these incidents when the game's reputation is damaged.

The only reputation that has been tarnished is Brown's as a coach.

The NRL should leave these sorts of incidents to the club's to sort out.

 

[Willow]

I have to say that I didnt expect that.

Players thumping each other on the field is OK but a coach giving a clip across the ear is going to be fined. Seems like a double standard but there you go... its an unusual incident and the media reports probably contributed to the NRL's desire to get involved.

Was it Brett Mullins who lost his cool and shoved around a team mate at Canberra acouple of years back? Did he ever get fined by the NRL?

I can only imagine that it has something to do with the reported increase in unsavory behaviour in suburban matches. You know, physical confrontations between coaches, referees and parents. Maybe not, but its the only thing I think of. As you say, its really a club issue.

 

[imported_Noodles]

<table border=0 cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td class=topheader> This was on Sportal.com.au Brown’s costly slap</td></tr> <tr> <td class=addtext>Sportal </td></tr> <tr> <td align=right class=addtext></td></tr></tbody></table> <table border=0 cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td>

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</td></tr></tbody></table>St George Illawarra coach Nathan Brown has been fined $5000 by the NRL for slapping captain Trent Barrett.
With scores level at 12-all in the round five Dragons-Manly match at WIN Stadium, Brown berated senior players Barrett, Lance Thompson and Brett Firman on the sidelines, and slapped Barrett in the face.
Brown has since apologised for his actions, which Barrett has accepted, but the NRL moved to show it would not accept such behaviour.
"The message it sends to other parts of the game and the message it sends to our players is such that we cannot simply ignore it," NRL Chief Executive David Gallop said in a statement.
"If it were to happen at junior level a coach would need to show cause why he shouldn't face suspension.”
"It was very much out of character for Nathan and he has been clear in condemning the behaviour.”
"For that reason we are not imposing a higher penalty but we will be issuing the Dragons with a breach notice imposing a fine amount of $5000."</td></tr></tbody></table>
Agree with you Willow - the Qld captain belting up a player is worth ignoring but a coach losing his cool on the sideline deserving condeming by the people that run the competition. I guess this means they believe Tallis was acting in character with what he did- I suppose they have a point !

 

[imported_weasel]

Willow, I'm pretty sure Mullins was fined. My memory is a bit dusty on the matter but the figure that seems to be springing to mind is 25k. That seems rather high so my recollection is probably a fair bit off, maybe it was $2500. I do recall he gave quite an emotional press conference after the incident apologising for his actions, and I think he actually copped a suspension for it too.

 

[imported_weasel]

No actually I've looked into it and the $25000 figure is spot on. He wasn't suspensed either, but dropped to First Division. Sorry for the mistake. Here's a link I found to the article: http://www.abc.net.au/worldtoday/s119720.htm

 

[Willow]

Thankyou Weasal... Thats one from the vault eh?

Unfortunately, Brownie can't be dropped to the reserves like Mullins was but the incidents have some similarities. Its all about players and/or coaches allowing the pressure to get the better of them.

I've seen and heard of coaches abusing each other as well. Once again, its one from the vault but I recall hearing that Brian Smith once got whacked or shoved by another coach (who I cant remember now) when he went up to shake his hand after a game. The other coach saw this as a condescending act and was reportedlyless than gracious in reply. <hr>

An incident during the match when coach Nathan Brown berated
skipper Trent Barrett, Brett Firman and Lance Thompson.
At one point, Brown 'clipped' Barrett across the cheek
and then literally grabbed and pulled Barrett and Thompson into line.
Brown was later apologetic to Barrett
but was 'slapped' with a fined $5000 by the NRL and took
full responsibility for his actions.

At the time, Saints had just leveled the scores at 12-all.
Afterwards, Manly ran in five unanswered tries. <hr>
I don't want to harp on it but I saw the above TV footage of the Brown incident last night on Sport Tonight and it simply looked like Brown was letting his passion gain control.

Nevertheless, it was only a tap and the reaction seems to be over the actual symbolism of the imagery rather than the any physical damage that may have been implied. That probably makes it quite different to a couple of players from opposite sides thumping each other but makes it quite similar to players from the same side shoving each other.

Brown also pointed determiningly into the chests of Thommo and Firman but this was not reported... it was only the 'clip' across Barrett's cheek that got everyone's attention. The term 'slap in the face' means more than just a slap in the face. A 'finger in the chest' doesnt carry quite the same weight.

It should be noted that Brown has taken full responsibility for his actions. He could have just dismissed it as a spur-of-the-moment thing (which it was) and absolved himself of blame. But to his credit, he has taken the full brunt of the fallout.

I dont know if there's much more that can be added except I believe Brown won't do this again. Hopefully both he and Barrett can put this behind them and get on with the more important things in life, like winning footy games.