Parramatta Eels duo Junior Paulo and Michael Jennings have been charged by the NRL Match Review Committee following the Eels’ Round 19 victory over the Brisbane Broncos at Bankwest Stadium on Friday 18 September.
Eels forward Junior Paulo has been charged with a Grade One – Dangerous Contact (other) charge for a tackle on Broncos forward David Fifita in the 42nd minute of the clash. The base penalty for the charge is 100 points, meaning Paulo will miss suspension and be available for selection next week if he enters an early guilty plea.
Eels centre Michael Jennings has been charged with a Grade One – High Tackle (careless) for a tackle on Broncos centre Kotoni Staggs in the 47th minute of the clash. The charge carries a base penalty of $750. With 50% loading due to a prior similar offence in the last two years, Jennings faces a $850 fine for an early guilty plea or a $1,150 if found guilty.
The Eels have until midday Sunday 20 September to respond to the charges.
Replies
Would it be worth challenging the charge against Jr, or just cop the early guilty plea with him not missing a game from it?
I'd like to see us challenge it
So will both be available for next weeks game?
It's mystifying that a player and club who truly believes player has done nothing wrong, (as in this one x100 ) is penalised for defending themselves! If he says he did it he is free to play. Surely this is about as close to a false confession in admission of guilt as is legally possible!?
On a grand scale ... don't get why in this country, everyone has a right to be considered innocent until proven, but not in weird and wonderful nrl land?
Interestingly since they are invoking a monetary fine, I wonder how this would go down in a court of law? As you say, the NRL are blackmailing the player to give a guilty verdict.
Yeah it's like blackmail Longfin ... I've always thought it. That way their ridiculous calls are accepted as correct regardless of how way off they are.
yhiught the same about Nuikore's recent one and thought they maybe challenged that... with the dangled carrot in place we didn't fight it.
do you think they should?
You're spon on mate. This type of system is seriously flawed. Early plea's now, bite you in the arse later and this system encourages the innocent to do it.
Better off to have a panel of experts like the old days and judge each case on merit. If they have plenty of form, then just penalise harder.
How the hell could Paulo be charged after that is just beyond me. NRL have lost teh plot. Incompetant referees, bunker and review committee. It has gone well and truly past the point of being laughable. The inconsistency in application of rules betweens certain teams and certain players is just ridiculous.
I wonder if Jnr would have been penalised or put on report if it was any other player other than Fifita.
Reckon it made a difference due to big name too. Don't think it's far fetched to think it either. It was just so incredible ... almost like they had to blame someone for the shitty thing happening.
who was upstairs last night?
So Paulo third man in, hits the opposition above the waist and drops in the tackle. Uhhhmmm, isn't the whole purpose of a tackle to get the opposition player onto the ground. FFS what a joke!