Tahu and Morrin in dock over biting
Brad Walter | August 6, 2007
BULLDOGS forward Brad Morrin faces a ban of at least six matches for biting Parramatta's Timana Tahu - and the rugby union-bound centre may also be charged over the incident that marred Friday night's controversial game at Telstra Stadium.
Tahu, who made an on-field complaint against Morrin after being penalised for slapping the Bulldogs interchange prop, will today come under scrutiny from the NRL match review committee for his actions in the lead-up to the 38th-minute biting incident.
In an exclusive interview in yesterday's Sun-Herald, Morrin claimed he had reacted to a head-slam from Tahu, but admitted, "That doesn't condone what I did."
For Tahu to be charged, the committee must determine whether he made contact with Morrin's head or neck and if he used sufficient force to constitute a head-slam.
But even if Tahu is charged, it will have little bearing on the severity of the penalty against Morrin. The case is expected to be heard along the same grounds as the infamous Danny Williams-Mark O'Neill king-hit hearing in 2004.
Melbourne's Williams claimed he had been reacting to an undetected high shot from O'Neill when he king-hit the Tigers captain at Leichhardt Oval. He received a 16-match ban, despite O'Neill also being charged.
Unlike Williams, Morrin has ruled out using mild concussion as a defence and will plead guilty to whatever charge is laid against him.
It is likely the 25-year-old will be referred directly to the judiciary on an ungraded contrary conduct charge and will then be at the mercy of the tribunal panel.
The last player found guilty of biting, then Cronulla prop Chris Beattie, received a two-match ban in 2001, while former Brisbane second-rower Peter Ryan was suspended for three games in 1994.
With a maximum grade-five charge worth 525 demerit points, Morrin is looking at a ban of at least six games.
Despite planning to plead guilty, it is unusual for players on referred charges to receive the usual 25 per cent sentence reduction for an early plea.
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