Comparing every Dangerous Contact charge: Why Morgan Knowles faces tribunal and others don’t

11 of the 17 charges from the Match Review Panel after Rivals Round were dangerous contact.

Here is every one of them and what the panel said about them and an analysis.

Morgan Smithies – Grade B: 1 Match Ban

Dangerous Contact – Defender uses any part of their body forcefully to twist, bend or otherwise apply pressure to the limb or limbs of an opposing player in a way that involves an unacceptable risk of injury to that player

Analysis: This is a much less frequent variant of this charge that we have seen this season with most focusing on late hits and danger to head and spines. However, we saw two this weekend from the same guy with Morgan Knowles being sent to a tribunal for the same offence.

Sione Mata’utia – Grade A: Fine

Dangerous Contact – A defending player makes contact with an opponent after the ball has been released by an opponent in a vulnerable position which causes flexion to the head, neck or spinal column on an attacking player, which poses an unacceptable risk of injury to that player.

Analysis: This is the more common way we see Dangerous Contact charges. Clearly it was determined that there wasn’t much severity to this one.

Morgan Knowles – Grade D: Referred to Tribunal

Dangerous Contact – Defender uses any part of their body forcefully to twist, bend or otherwise apply pressure to the limb or limbs of an opposing player in a way that involves an unacceptable risk of injury to that player.

Analysis: Unlike Smithies, Knowles faces a longer ban after tribunal. This shows that the panel have decided that Knowles’ offence must have been more sever in their opinion.

Joe Westerman – Grade A: Fine

Dangerous Contact – Defender uses any part of their body forcefully to twist, bend or otherwise apply pressure to the limb or limbs of an opposing player in a way that involves an unacceptable risk of injury to that player

Analysis: This is a good follow up to Knowles’ as this is the other end of the spectrum with no fine for Westerman.

Rob Mulhern – Grade B: Fine

Dangerous Contact – A defending player makes contact with an opponent after the ball has been released by an opponent in a vulnerable position which causes flexion to the head, neck or spinal column on an attacking player, which poses an unacceptable risk of injury to that player

Analysis: This is the most common charge we have seen this season and the most common punishment.

Ave Seumanufagai – Grade B: 1 Match Ban

Dangerous Contact – Defender uses any part of their body forcefully to twist, bend or otherwise apply pressure to the limb or limbs of an opposing player in a way that involves an unacceptable risk of injury to that player

Analysis: This offence was much more common this week than last and Philbin’s (after what many people felt was a hip drop tackle akin to James Batchelor’s against Hull FC) is seen as more severe than anyone’s but Knowles.

Rhys Kennedy – Grade A: No punishment

Dangerous Contact – A defending player makes contact with an opponent after the ball has been released by an opponent in a vulnerable position which causes flexion to the head, neck or spinal column on an attacking player, which poses an unacceptable risk of injury to that player

Rhys Kennedy – Grade A: No Punishment

Dangerous Contact – A defending player contacts an opponent after the ball has been
released by an opponent in a vulnerable position which causes flexion to the head, neck or
spinal column on an attacking player, which poses an unacceptable risk of injury to that
player

Analysis: Both of these show that late hits won’t always yield a ban if low severity.

Joe Batchelor – Grade C: 1 Match Ban

Dangerous Contact – Defender uses any part of their body forcefully to twist, bend or otherwise apply pressure to the limb or limbs of an opposing player in a way that involves an unacceptable risk of injury to that player

Analysis: This was the hip drop tackle which has been talked about a lot recently. Unlike Philbin’s, he only gets a one match ban.

Kane Evans – Grade B: 1 Match Ban

Dangerous Contact – A defending player makes contact with an opponent after the ball has been released by an opponent in a vulnerable position which causes flexion to the head, neck or spinal column on an attacking player, which poses an unacceptable risk of injury to that player

Analysis: This one was seen as a more severe late hit and thus he receives a one match.