Judiciary code reforms

[Super Freak]

A fines system will be introduced for some low-grade offences following an extensive review of the NRL Judiciary system.

Offences including careless high tackles, tripping, contrary conduct and detrimental conduct will now result in a $1500 fine for a Grade One offence, rather than demerit points and possible suspension. Players who accept an early guilty plea will have the fine reduced by 25 per cent.

A Working Group which included representatives of NRL Clubs, the Rugby League Players Association and legal representatives of the NRL Judiciary system unanimously supported a hybrid model which incorporates both fines and points.

Other more serious offences including dangerous throws, shoulder charges, kicking and striking will still result in points penalties for Grade One offences.

"Where a player is involved in dangerous actions they can still expect to spend time on the sideline," NRL Head of Football Brian Canavan said.

"These changes are the result of an extensive review of the previous process and extensive consultation.

"The aim of the Working Group was to find a fairer and simpler system which ensured players would not miss matches for what would be deemed minor offences."

All fines must be paid by the player and the revenue generated by the payment of fines will be reinvested in player wellbeing and education related initiatives.

Players who are charged with three or more offences during the same season will not be eligible to accept a financial penalty. In those circumstances, offences will be converted to a base penalty of 100 demerit points.

Additionally, following the recommendations of the Match Review/Judiciary review, which were endorsed by the Australian Rugby League Commission this week:

• Some offences will now carry lower points, while the base penalty for some offences stemming from careless, reckless or intentional conduct has increased;

• The categories of offences have been streamlined, decreasing from 17 to 12. This is designed to ensure easier explanation and understanding for all;

• Offences will now universally carry three grades, although offences which are deemed to be more serious than a Grade Three offence will be referred directly to the Judiciary Panel;

• Carry-over points will be not added to charges which attract a fine. However, loadings from offences in the previous two seasons will be relevant for calculating penalties;

• The Match Review Committee will be reduced from five panel members to four, with former NRL Coach Stuart Raper joining Michael Buettner, Michael Hodgson and Ben Ross on the panel in 2017;

• The Judiciary Panel will be cut from a nine-person panel to five, and;

• Judiciary hearings will be held on Tuesday nights.

"These changes are designed to both simplify the system and improve consistency across the decision-making of both the Match Review Committee and the NRL Judiciary," Mr Canavan said.

The Working Group which recommended the changes included Bulldogs Coach Des Hasler, Club CEOs Jim Doyle and Graham Annesley, RLPA General Manager Player Relations Clint Newton, Judiciary Chairman Geoff Bellew, former NRL Counsel Peter Kite as well as key NRL officials including Head of Integrity Nick Weeks and Brian Canavan.

"This Working Group researched, documented, explored and then pressure-tested penalties for minor offences across major sporting competitions domestically and across the globe," Mr Canavan said.

"Our benchmarking analysis researched best-practice models from American sports, including the NFL, NBA and MLB, as well as competitions closer to home.

"Importantly, all of these important changes follow extensive consultation with stakeholders – including the Clubs, the Coaches and the Players.

"The result will be a far more streamlined, fairer system which will be easier to understand and appreciate for everyone in the game."

The new system will be in place for the start of the 2017 NRL Telstra Premiership.

http://www.nrl.com/judiciary-code-reforms/tabid/10874/newsid/103414/default.aspx

Click on the link for the video.

 

[Sproj]

This actually makes a lot of sense but it is complicated and therefore will be stuffed up before it even begins.

 

[Mitch06]

It's a shame how inconsistent they were last year at citing offences. Hopefully they can become more consistent with this system, albeit unlikely.

 

[Big Pete]

I'll need to see it in execution, but it seems like they're just shuffling the chairs on the deck of titanic.

I was curious to see what charges have been removed. From the looks of it, Law Breaking, Offensive Language, Disputing Decision, Re-entering Play and Obstructing have all been removed. I don't think it will have any impact on the game, and I was surprised they were even considered offensives by the NRL considering how common place those seem to be. I can't remember any player being charged with that offence...

The fine system worries me, and I can't believe how lenient the NRL is with tripping.

 

[Nashy]

Doesn't seem enough money to deter the biggest grubs.

 

[Sproj]

From the looks of it, Law Breaking, Offensive Language, Disputing Decision, Re-entering Play and Obstructing have all been removed

This reminds me of Hunt for the Wilder People for some reason.

 

[Foordy]

Doesn't seem enough money to deter the biggest grubs.

My guess is that they decided on the level of fines based on the lower paid players for fear they wouldn't have been able to afford it.

what they should have done is based the fines on a set % of match fee or weekly/monthy salary etc.

for example a guy like Josh Reynolds on hundreds of thousands of dollars won't give a shit about a $1500 fine for tripping. in fact he will probably up the frequency now he won't be rubbed out for a game

 

[Kimlo]

That's a huge fine for someone on the minimum NRL contract which IIRC is 80k, but it's bugger all for someone like DCE on 1m+ a year.

 

[Super Freak]

Honestly none of this will make much difference IMO.

Buettner is still in charge.

 

[Morkel]

It's a joke. Just making it look like they're doing something about their bullshit when they're actually not. It'll still be the same shit, now people will bitch that the slightest difference in interpretation can be the difference between no weeks off and 3 weeks off. The people need to change, not the system. The system was fine, would have worked perfectly, if it wasn't so subjective and politically-motivated.

 

[Dexter]

$1500 to trip someone and advance through the finals, no brainer.

 

[mitch222]

Tripping should be a send off. That's the punishment

 

[Super Freak]

It is a small step in the right direction.

Now players won't have to miss a game, potentially a final or GF, for a minor offence like briefly touching a ref..

But more changes still need to be made. Tripping shouldn't be a 1.5k fine.

 

[Sproj]

As mentioned though, you can change all the rules for the better but while Buettner et al (any ex-player really) are still there, nothing will change.

The fact players won't get suspended as much is interesting, I wonder if the CEO is once again taking care of his team given how often Reynolds get suspended?