The NRL Judiciary is the disciplinary judiciary of the National Rugby League (NRL), a rugby league competition. The Judiciary regulates the on-field conduct of players from NRL clubs.[1][2]

Due to changes announced on the eve of the 2022 NRL season,[3] the NRL Judiciary is made up of former players who convene in two-man panels to rule on on-field incidents. The judiciary has been chaired by Supreme Court of NSW Justice Geoffrey Bellew since 2015.[4] Bellew has the deciding vote should the panel's verdict not be unanimous.[3]

From 2022, the Match Review Committee deciding on whether charges are issued against players for on-field conduct is managed by former NRL player and video referee Luke Patten.[3]

An integrity unit was formed on 7 February 2013 and is headed by former Federal Court judge Tony Whitlam.[5]

Penalties Table

Updated for 2022 NRL season.[3]

Offence Grade 1st Offence
(Early plea in brackets) 		2nd Offence
(Early plea in brackets) 		3rd Offence
(Early plea in brackets)
High Tackle - Careless 1 $1,500 ($1,000) $2,500 ($1,800) 2 matches ($3,000)
2 2 matches (1) 3 matches (2) 4 matches (3)
3 3 matches (2) 4 matches (3) 5 matches (4)
High Tackle - Reckless 4(1)[a] 4 matches (3) 5 matches (4) 6 matches (5)
5(2) 5 matches (4) 6 matches (5) 7 matches (6)
6(3) 6 matches (5) 7 matches (6) 8 matches (7)
Dangerous Contact 1 $1,500 ($1,000) $2,500 ($1,800) 2 matches ($3,000)
2 2 matches (1) 3 matches (2) 4 matches (3)
3 3 matches (2) 4 matches (3) 5 matches (4)
Dangerous Throw 1 $1,500 ($1,000) $2,500 ($1,800) 3 matches (2)
2 3 matches (2) 4 matches (3) 5 matches (4)
3 5 matches (4) 6 matches (5) 7 matches (6)
Striking 1 $2,000 ($1,500) 2 matches ($3,000) 4 matches (3)
2 3 matches (2) 4 matches (3) 5 matches (4)
3 4 matches (3) 5 matches (4) 6 matches (5)
Crusher Tackle 1 $2,000 ($1,500) 2 matches ($3,000) 4 matches (3)
2 3 matches (2) 4 matches (3) 5 matches (4)
3 4 matches (3) 5 matches (4) 6 matches (5)
Contrary Conduct 1 $1,500 ($1,000) $2,500 ($1,800) 2 matches ($3,000)
2 2 matches (1) 3 matches (2) 4 matches (3)
3 3 matches (2) 4 matches (3) 5 matches (4)
Shoulder Charge 1 $2,000 ($1,500) 2 matches ($3,000) 4 matches (3)
2 3 matches (2) 4 matches (3) 5 matches (4)
3 4 matches (3) 5 matches (4) 6 matches (5)

Previous points table

System in place from 1998-2021, this version from 2017-2021.[6]
100 points = 1 match suspension

Offence Grade 1 Grade 2 Grade 3
Tripping $1,500 or 100 200 300
Kicking 200 300 400
Striking 200 300 400
Reckless high tackle 400 500 600
Intentional high tackle Refer to panel
Careless high tackle $1,500 or 100 200 300
Dropping Knees 200 300 400
Dangerous Throw $1,500 or 100 300 500
Contrary conduct $1,500 or 100 200 300
Detrimental conduct $1,500 or 100 200 300
Dangerous contact - head/neck 100 300 500
Dangerous contact - other 100 200 300
Shoulder charge 200 350 500
Crusher tackle 200 350 500

History

The NRL Judiciary was formed in 1998 after the reunification of the game in Australia, following the Super League war. Judiciary hearings were generally held on Tuesday nights, following the completion of each round of matches. Charges would be laid against players by the NRL Match Review Committee (MRC), originally chaired from 1998–2003 by judiciary commissioner Jim Hall. Hall was originally appointed by Super League to be that competition's judiciary commissioner, and was joined by Graham Annesley and Ron Massey to form the MRC.[7]

The MRC would review incidents where players were either sent off or reported by the referee; subject to a complaint by an opposition club, or another source; or observed by the MRC. If a charge was warranted, the MRC would grade the serious of the offence and players and clubs would have the opportunity to take an early guilty plea to avoid a hearing. If the player chose the defend the charge, the hearing would be held by the NRL Judiciary under chairman Greg Woods and a panel of former players.[7]

The hearing would be similar to a jury trial where the chairman provides rulings and direction to the panel members, and after hearing the evidence the panel members would deliberate. If found guilty the table of demerit point penalties would determine the number of matches players would be suspended after the verdict.[7]

Jim Hall would be sacked as judiciary commissioner in January 2004 by then NRL CEO David Gallop, with the league splitting the role after a number of controversies during the 2003 NRL season.[8]

Suspensions

NRL records

Source:[9]

Player Charges Season Matches
suspended 		Club
Danny Williams Striking 2004 18 Melbourne Storm
John Hopoate Striking 2005 17 Manly Warringah Sea Eagles
James Graham Biting 2012 12 Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs
Clint Newton Striking 2004 12 Newcastle Knights
John Hopoate 3 × Contrary conduct 2001 12 Wests Tigers
Josh Stuart 2 × high tackles 1998 12[10] North Sydney Bears
Luke O'Donnell Reckless high tackle 2003 11 Wests Tigers
Lopini Paea Dangerous Throw 2006 10 Sydney Roosters
Luke MacDougall Dangerous Throw 2005 10 South Sydney Rabbitohs
Tim Maddison Striking 2002 10 North Queensland Cowboys
Greg Bird Dangerous contact - head/neck 2004 10 Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks

See also

Notes

  1. ^ High Tackle Reckless is effectively treated as a grade up from High Tackle Careless

References

  1. ^ "Judiciary Code".
  2. ^ "News".
  3. ^ a b c d "NRL confirm enhancements to judiciary and MRC". NRL.com. National Rugby League. 10 March 2022. Retrieved 23 March 2022.
  4. ^ Browning, Jennifer (5 March 2015). "NRL appointment of Honourable Justice Geoff Bellew welcomed by predecessor Paul Conlon". abc.net.au. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 23 March 2022.
  5. ^ "NRL creates integrity unit in response to Crime Commission probe into Australian sport". Smh.com.au. 24 July 2012. Retrieved 1 July 2013.
  6. ^ "NRL - Judiciary Code". NRL.com. National Rugby League. Archived from the original on 12 November 2020. Retrieved 23 March 2022.
  7. ^ a b c McKewen, Trevor, ed. (17 June 1998). "The NRL Judiciary - A plain English guide". Big League. Sydney, New South Wales: Pacific Publications Pty Ltd. 79 (16): 24–25.
  8. ^ "Rugby League: Warriors brawl factor in NRL sacking of Hall". nzherald.co.nz. 25 January 2004. Retrieved 2 June 2023.
  9. ^ "The longest NRL suspensions in the modern era". www.sportingnews.com. 25 July 2017. Retrieved 15 June 2020.
  10. ^ Middleton, David (October 1998). Rugby League 1999. Sydney: Harper Sports. pp. 89–91. ISBN 0732267773.

External links

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