Newton fears lengthy ban at tribunal
By Brad Walter
August 24, 2004
SMH
Newcastle forward Clint Newton is bracing for the worst and will throw himself on the mercy of the judiciary after being ordered to front the tribunal tomorrow night on an ungraded striking charge.
Newton, who will be represented by solicitor and former player Grant Butterfield, said he would accept whatever ban was imposed for his elbowing of St George-Illawarra prop Ashton Sims.
The 23-year-old son of former golfing great Jack Newton apologised to Sims in the dressing room shortly after his seventh-minute dismissal in Newcastle last Friday night and again contacted him over the weekend to check on his condition.
His contrition and remorse, the fact Sims suffered nothing worse than a few loose teeth and returned to the game, and Newton's previously unblemished record are certain to be taken into consideration by the judiciary and will ensure he does not receive a suspension as heavy as the 18-match ban handed out last month to Melbourne's Danny Williams.
But with Wests Tigers prop Bryce Gibbs facing a four- to six-match suspension on a grade two reckless high tackle charge, Newton said he would not be surprised to have the book thrown at him but is more concerned about being branded a "mug or a thug" for the remainder of his career.
"I'm sure I'll get a fair hearing. Some people ... have said low numbers and some have said, 'hit him with everything you've got', so I'll go in expecting the worst," Newton told The Newcastle Herald.
"I've watched the replay and, as I've said all along, I'm not going to go into anything too technical or ridiculous in my defence. I'll cop that it was careless and a misjudgment on my behalf but the main thing is what happened was not intentional, and I hope the judiciary sees it that way.
"But whatever verdict is handed down or whatever suspension comes out of it, I hope people judge me by the person that I am and not just the incident itself. I don't want to be perceived as a mug or a thug with this sort of thing in my game."
Butterfield, the brother of former Knights captain and current Rugby League Professionals Association president Tony Butterfield, is expected to tell the hearing that Newton was attempting a shoulder charge on Sims but the tackle went wrong when the rookie prop Sims stepped back inside and was met by Newcastle teammate Ben Kennedy. Fearing a head clash, Newton turned away and was not looking at Sims at the time of impact.
It is expected NRL prosecutor Peter Kite will compare the incident to Greg Bird's kneeing of Shane Marteene this season, but unlike the Cronulla five-eighth, who received a 10-match ban, Newton does not carry any loading from prior offences.
He will also be entitled to a 25 per cent discount for pleading guilty, as was Williams, whose suspension included a 70 per cent loading.
"I have no problems accepting the fact I made an error but now it just depends on how much of an error that is in their [the judiciary's] eyes." Newton said.
"You don't expect these sort of things to ever happen in your career but now that it has, I'm just trying to deal with it the best way I can."
Sims, 19, will wear a double mouthguard on Sunday when he plays against Manly at Oki Jubilee Stadium after having his teeth braced with wiring. He had offered to testify on Newton's behalf but the Dragons yesterday ruled that out.
Meanwhile, Tigers chief executive Steve Noyce yesterday called for a ban on officials commenting about judiciary matters following Brisbane coach Wayne Bennett's suggestion that a hard line needed to be taken on high tackles after the Gibbs incident last Saturday night.
By Brad Walter
August 24, 2004
SMH
Newcastle forward Clint Newton is bracing for the worst and will throw himself on the mercy of the judiciary after being ordered to front the tribunal tomorrow night on an ungraded striking charge.
Newton, who will be represented by solicitor and former player Grant Butterfield, said he would accept whatever ban was imposed for his elbowing of St George-Illawarra prop Ashton Sims.
The 23-year-old son of former golfing great Jack Newton apologised to Sims in the dressing room shortly after his seventh-minute dismissal in Newcastle last Friday night and again contacted him over the weekend to check on his condition.
His contrition and remorse, the fact Sims suffered nothing worse than a few loose teeth and returned to the game, and Newton's previously unblemished record are certain to be taken into consideration by the judiciary and will ensure he does not receive a suspension as heavy as the 18-match ban handed out last month to Melbourne's Danny Williams.
But with Wests Tigers prop Bryce Gibbs facing a four- to six-match suspension on a grade two reckless high tackle charge, Newton said he would not be surprised to have the book thrown at him but is more concerned about being branded a "mug or a thug" for the remainder of his career.
"I'm sure I'll get a fair hearing. Some people ... have said low numbers and some have said, 'hit him with everything you've got', so I'll go in expecting the worst," Newton told The Newcastle Herald.
"I've watched the replay and, as I've said all along, I'm not going to go into anything too technical or ridiculous in my defence. I'll cop that it was careless and a misjudgment on my behalf but the main thing is what happened was not intentional, and I hope the judiciary sees it that way.
"But whatever verdict is handed down or whatever suspension comes out of it, I hope people judge me by the person that I am and not just the incident itself. I don't want to be perceived as a mug or a thug with this sort of thing in my game."
Butterfield, the brother of former Knights captain and current Rugby League Professionals Association president Tony Butterfield, is expected to tell the hearing that Newton was attempting a shoulder charge on Sims but the tackle went wrong when the rookie prop Sims stepped back inside and was met by Newcastle teammate Ben Kennedy. Fearing a head clash, Newton turned away and was not looking at Sims at the time of impact.
It is expected NRL prosecutor Peter Kite will compare the incident to Greg Bird's kneeing of Shane Marteene this season, but unlike the Cronulla five-eighth, who received a 10-match ban, Newton does not carry any loading from prior offences.
He will also be entitled to a 25 per cent discount for pleading guilty, as was Williams, whose suspension included a 70 per cent loading.
"I have no problems accepting the fact I made an error but now it just depends on how much of an error that is in their [the judiciary's] eyes." Newton said.
"You don't expect these sort of things to ever happen in your career but now that it has, I'm just trying to deal with it the best way I can."
Sims, 19, will wear a double mouthguard on Sunday when he plays against Manly at Oki Jubilee Stadium after having his teeth braced with wiring. He had offered to testify on Newton's behalf but the Dragons yesterday ruled that out.
Meanwhile, Tigers chief executive Steve Noyce yesterday called for a ban on officials commenting about judiciary matters following Brisbane coach Wayne Bennett's suggestion that a hard line needed to be taken on high tackles after the Gibbs incident last Saturday night.
