This is an interesting article
NZRL 'gobsmacked' by decision regarding Gilmour
Written by: NZRL media
October 30th, 2007 05:52 PM
[z]1725[/z]
New Zealand Rugby League chairman Andrew Chalmers says he’s “gobsmacked” no action is to be taken against Great Britain prop Sam Burgess for a high tackle that has left Kiwi front rower Fuifui Moimoi with jaw and neck injuries.
Moimoi (28) is on painkillers after being collared by Burgess (18) in Saturday night’s 14-20 first test loss at Galpharm Stadium in Huddersfield.
The Kiwi prop is expected to play in Saturday’s second test in Hull but couldn’t take part in a field training session with the team today. Since the test, he has also been unable to eat most solid foods.
But despite the nature of the tackle and its after-effects Burgess, who was put on report by referee Tony Archer, was today cleared for the second test by a three-man match review panel.
Convened by Rugby Football League employee and former test referee Stuart Cummins, the panel also included Great Britain team manager Abi Ekoku and NZRL board member Neville Kesha, also a former test referee.
Kesha advocated Burgess’ tackle should be referred to a judicial hearing but he was again out-voted 2-1, as he was last week when considering a high tackle case involving Great Britain front rower Adrian Morley.
“It’s déjà vu. It was an appalling set-up job to let Morley free last week and this one just leaves me gobsmacked,” said Chalmers, who sat in on today’s hearing as an observer.
“Great Britain coach Tony Smith invited us to ‘send someone with some weight’ to future hearings. We took his advice. We sent two of the heaviest people we could find – All Golds manager Malcolm Boyle and me – but we were still carved up faster than a pork roast at a hangi.
“There is absolutely nothing equitable about the system the RFL has in place. They have two sets of rules – one to suit them and one for dealing with us.”
Immediately after making a “loaded” decision not to refer Burgess’ charge, the Great Britain camp counter-charged Moimoi for allegedly using an elbow with his leading arm when tackled by Burgess in a separate incident late in the match.
Chalmers said neither he nor anyone involved with the New Zealand camp had been notified in advance that Moimoi would be cited.
“These people show a flagrant disregard for their own rules, or they just simply opt to use them or discard them as and when it suits them,” he said.
“The regulations in place require any citing, apart from players put on report or ordered off, to be lodged in writing by 10.30am the day after the test.
“This wasn’t done in this case. The first we knew of anything to do with a potential charge against Fuifui was when we walked into the RFL’s hearing at Red Hall (RFL headquarters) this morning.
“Instead the RFL told us a verbal citing was lodged with the match commissioner immediately after the test on Saturday night. But who bothered to let us know? No one. We don’t have a clairvoyant on staff.”
Chalmers said a report from Kiwi team doctor Simon Mayhew was tabled at the meeting, noting that Moimoi had suffered a whiplash injury from the tackles but this evidence was barely considered.
“There wasn’t a moment’s hesitation from the home-based parties in dismissing the case against Burgess. They staggeringly said it was in his favour that he didn’t let go of Fuifui,” he said.
“But once they moved onto Fuifui’s incident, the tone changed completely.
“Abi (Ekoku) claimed Fuifui ‘went with intent into this challenge’. As an observer I wasn’t entitled to speak but I couldn’t stop myself from pointing out the video clearly showed the contact (by Fuifui’s forearm) was with Burgess’ upper chest.”
That resulted in the panel dismissing further action against Moimoi but the meeting finished with a discussion about the RFL’s judicial process and the need for updating and greater neutrality.
“Stuart (Cummins) agreed the process was out of date,” said Chalmers.
“He said they needed to look at systems for the World Cup to develop something he called more neutral.
“With this current system in place the numbers will always be stacked against us Kiwis. They seem intent on treating us like a bunch of natives from the colonies.”
