Utai falls foul of the judiciary.

[The Colonel]

http://foxsports.news.com.au/story/0,8659,8777264-23210,00.html

BULLDOGS winger Matt Utai has become the first player to fall foul of the National Rugby League's new judiciary set-up.

Utai was today charged with a grade three reckless high tackle by recently-appointed match review commissioner Greg McCallum following a tackle on Canberra winger Steve Franciscus at Coffs Harbour on Saturday night.

The New Zealand international could face a four week suspension if he elects to contest the charge and is foound guilty at the judiciary.

An early guilty plea would result in a three week suspension, ruling him out of the club's final trial against St George Illawarra and the opening two rounds of the premiership.

The Bulldogs have until 12pm tomorrow to enter a plea.

The NRL overhauled the judiciary system last month, sacking former commissioner Jim Hall and creating a new position for former Test referee McCallum.

McCallum was entrusted with the responsibility of deciding whether players should be charged with offences.

Sydney barrister and former Canterbury and Newtown player Peter Kite, SC, took on the other new position of judiciary counsel.

It's Kite's job to present any contested charge to the judiciary panel.

AAP

 

[simon says]

Wow,what a start to the year for the Bulldogs.Harris out injured,Utai gone,scandal at Coffs,and this after losing Vagana and host of up and comers last year.

Could it be a long year for the doggies???????

 

[PB]

You can bet they probably won't have the legal man power to defend this charge for the sake of one less week with all that appears will be going on with their club this week. So i imagine they will take the early plea and three weeks.

And for the record, I hope this isnt a sign of how soft MacCallum is going to be. That tackle was an absolute shocker!

 

[paulquinn49]

When/Where did you guys see the tackle I wanna see it.


also when did Harris get injured?

 

[PB]

Showed the tackle on 9 news last night don't know if it is on ninemsn? doubt it though.

 

[Ron Jeremy]

He should get 12 weeks!!

 

[Hurriflatch]

a grade 3 reckless high tackle isn't excatly a light charge

Jim Hall would have given it a grade 1 carless giving him a 1/2 a match (50 pt) suspension.

I didn't see the tackle but from memory the charges are

Careless grade 1-grade 5
reckless grade 1-grade 5
Intentional grade 1-grade 5

 

[Paj8]

wow this is a really bad start of the year to the bulldogs

 

[~doggie~diva~]

bloody oath it is!!

 

[greeneyed]

Deserved penalty for the tackle. It was very serious, a real coathanger and he knocked out Franciscus for a full minute, and he can't remember anything about the night (which could be a good thing.....)

 

[El Diablo]

6 weeks should of been the minimum for that tackle.

 

[Paj8]

yeh what about these aligations what has happened about them?

 

[Raider_69]

i think thats a soft call from mccallum
6-8 would have been the time for the crime IMO

 

[Booyah]

I Feel sorry for the Dogs supporters, but not for Utai. From all reports it looked pretty intentional - and I've never liked the little prick anyway.

Too bad he didn't get 6 or 8.

 

[Goleel]

For a guy that short to cop someone around the neck it has to be a pretty rough shot. Probably deserves one or two more weeks than what he'll get, but at least they haven't given him one week like we've seen over the last few years.

 

[greeneyed]

Especially as Franciscus is about 6"4.

 

[Rise Against]

He has never been suspended be4 f**k give Utai a break

Gives Tonga a chance i spose.. depth is being tested early.. could be a good sign

 

[Hurriflatch]

due to the citing they showed the tackle on the news tonight and I've changed my mind.

It deserved about 8-10 weeks

 

[Grantwhy]

He has never been suspended be4 f**k give Utai a break

Gives Tonga a chance i spose.. depth is being tested early.. could be a good sign

If Utai hasn't been suspend before that will be why it is "only" 4 weeks or 3 weeks with a guilty plea.

There is also a discount for having a clean record. If this is the case, before the 'clean record' discount was taken into effect it could of been 5 or 6 weeks (less discount for a guilt plea).

ummm . . . . cancel that. Some quick googling indicates that a grade three reckless high tackle is worth 400 points = 4 week (less guilty plea) so it seems Utai doesn't have a clean record but that he hasn't been up on this charge recently (there is extra added on if that is the case).


Oddly enough I couldn't find what the points for each charge was on the NRL site :?