NRL veteran James Graham has called for the NRL to completely scrap the “inconsistent” judiciary as a drama-filled season continued on Tuesday night.
In a busy five-hour sitting that included three cases, Roosters star Jared Waerea-Hargreaves was the only man cleared to play in the finals despite a hit on South Sydney forward Liam Knight last week.
Parramatta prop Kane Evans wasn’t as successful, failing to overturn his high tackle charge in a hearing that didn’t finish until just before 11:30pm.
It comes after a controversial year at the judiciary and match review committee, which premiership player Michael Ennis labelled its “worst ever” on Tuesday night.
And Graham said the best way forward in his eyes was to rid the whole system of player hearings.
“As a player, and as a fan, you want consistency,” Graham told NRL 360.
“There’s a call for an overhaul but do we even need a judiciary or do we just have them say that’s foul play you’re banned for one game, you’re banned for two games and you don’t get a right to defend yourself.”
“It would definitely take away this ongoing cycle of will-they-or-won’t-they-get-banned.
“Because I think it just looks a little embarrassing when players get charged and they end up getting off.”
Ennis doubled down, on Graham’s criticism, questioning how Waerea-Hargreaves had been cleared to play.
“The system needs to be risolled completely. It’s been awful. It’s been the worst year,” Ennis said.
“For a grade-one (charge) you’ve barely got to touch the bloke in the head, Jared (Waerea-Hargreaves) knocked him cold and got off.
“(South captain) Sam Burgess knocks Matt Moylan out cold (earlier in the year) and gets a fine … then Sam is pulling hair and missing a semi-final.”
Burgess’ suspension is, however, a result of prior charges, making him ineligible to accept a fine for the contrary conduct offence.
Meanwhile, Waerea-Hargeraves’ availability for the Roosters against South Sydney on Friday is crucial given the physicality of last week’s clash between the teams.
He was facing a one-week ban after being charged with a grade one offence for the hit on Knight that left the Souths forward bloodied and forced him to be taken from the field in a medicab.
But his counsel James McLeod successfully argued the incident was a “rugby league accident”.
The judiciary panel accepted his evidence that he was attempting to make a “catching tackle” and that Knight fell into his bicep.
Canberra forward Hudson Young was the night’s headline case, banned for eight matches for making dangerous contact on Warriors centre Adam Pompey’s eyes.
