Justin Hodges Cleared to Play

[Kimlo]

Re: Justin Hodges on report

Said it before, said it again. He'll be let off. Guerra has even said he'll come to the hearing with him if needed.

Player who was involved has said he played for the penalty and took a bit of a jump, that's end of story. Otherwise one of the Melbourne players should have jumped to the floor while Thurston was holding their leg so we could even things out.

No way he misses not only a GF, but his final game in the NRL because of him grabbing at one leg. I wish the hearing was today, this is just a shitty distraction for now, but at least Hodges is professional enough to not let it interrupt his prep.

 

[subsbligh]

Re: Justin Hodges on report

It looked pretty bad, and the negative part of me says any other week he's got the same charge and it's probably right.

Then again, most of the time these Grade 1's aren't challenged because players take the charge and the carryover points and live with it.

It's like contesting a 66km/h in a 60km/h speeding fine, who gives a shit. Pay the fine, take a demerit point and move on. Hopefully we can get a good defence and the mitigating factors (including the enormity of the occasion for Hodges) should merit him playing.

But I'm not sure whether the media and public interest pressure will sway the judiciary towards or away from the result we want (i.e. bow to public interest, or take a very public stand to make an albiet futile example?).

Psychologically, for the team, it will be a positive. "Do it for Hodgo" just got amplified 100x and Bennett will eat up the siege mentality if he gets suspended.

 

[Kimlo]

Re: Justin Hodges on report

http://www.couriermail.com.au/sport/nrl/why-hodgo-should-be-cleared/story-fniabm4i-1227546420361

A SCIENTIFIC analysis of the “dangerous” tackle that threatens to sideline Justin Hodges from the NRL grand final shows he has no charge to answer and should be free to play for the fairytale career ending he deserves.One of the country’s leading forensic biomechanical experts, Simone Lewis, having reviewed footage of the tackle on Rooster Aidan Guerra in Friday’s semi-final at the request of The Courier-Mail, could not find any evidence to penalise Hodges.
Ms Lewis conducted a frame-by-frame analysis of the tackle and came to the conclusion Hodges should be free to play.

“It’s very interesting when you look at it closely,” she said.
The Atomic Human Movement Experts’ principal researcher — whose expertise has been used to determine the cause of injury for many high-profile criminal cases around the country — found Guerra had put himself in a dangerous position on purpose.
“Guerra’s right foot position and following rapid leg motion is evidence that Guerra contributed to his own forward motion,” she said.
“This evidence should support the Brisbane Broncos defence of the matter, at the NRL judiciary.
“Hodges isn’t applying any force to Guerra’s torso and Guerra lifted his own leg before Hodges grabbed at it.”
The finding adds weight to calls for tomorrow night’s NRL judiciary committee hearing to drop the case against Hodges.
Even the man with the most to lose if Hodges takes the field — Cowboys co-captain and playmaker Johnathan Thurston — says set Hodgo free.

Loading from previous suspensions means even an early guilty plea would still rule out Hodges.
Guerra, Hodges’ Queensland Origin teammate, said prior to the charge being laid the tackle did not merit a suspension.

Thurston said he would be gutted if the 15-season veteran was scratched from what could be the highlight of his career.
“It would be very disappointing for him to miss it,” Thurston said.
“He is a great mate of mine.”
Hodges will fight the charge at the judiciary tomorrow night in Sydney.
The Broncos typically use lawyer Peter Shields, who defended Gerard Baden-Clay, for judiciary matters.
Rugby league legends from both sides of the border and some of Queensland’s most powerful people have united to get Hodges on the field.
Across the state divide, former NSW secondrower Mark Geyer said common sense should prevail and Hodges should be allowed to play.

“We all know a dangerous tackle when we see one, especially nowadays. Hodges’ tackle on Guerra wasn’t one,” Geyer said.
“A rugby league player with the career resume of Justin Hodges doesn’t deserve to miss the biggest/last game of his life due to carry-over points.
“That tackle is put on report 10 times out of 10 in the season proper. But we’re not talking about the season proper. We’re talking about the grand final.”
Acting Premier Curtis Pitt said: “The judiciary will make their decision but it would be bitterly disappointing for NRL fans of any team to see a legend of the game miss out on a fitting farewell.”
Brisbane Lord Mayor Graham Quirk said it was clear from watching the game that there wasn’t anything in the tackle.
“Dangerous tackle? What dangerous tackle? It would be a shame, a big loss to the final if Justin was to be denied the opportunity to play,” he said.
Hodges’ clubmate Corey Parker, who would become grand final captain if his friend were suspended, said Guerra’s movement in the tackle contributed to its dynamic.
Hodges grabbed Guerra’s ankle and the backrower then lost some balance but appeared to also jump which led to him tipping past the horizontal.
“It didn’t look real great but Guerra actually rolled into that tackle and I’m sure they’ll see it in the right way and we won’t have to worry about that,” Parker said.
“He’s the skipper, mate. I don’t have to say too much more about him in terms of importance.”
Former NSW prop Steve Roach, who was suspended from Balmain’s 1988 grand final, also called for Hodges to avoid suspension as it was not deliberate and there needs to be “a bit of leniency knowing how hard blokes work to get into a grand final’’.
Former Test halfback Andrew Johns agreed.
“There is no way in the world he can miss a grand final for that,’’ Johns said on Channel 9.
“Everyone knows he’s going to get off. Everyone in the game who knows anything about the game knows he’s going to get off.
“Why does he have to put up with this sort of anxiety going into the biggest match of his career?’’
Hodges said he was confident he could beat the charge.
“It’s a little worrying but I know myself there was nothing in the tackle,’’ Hodges told Channel 9. Hodges, Parker, Darius Boyd and Sam Thaiday are the only Broncos still in the team since the club’s last premiership in 2006.
The Broncos return to training this morning and Parker said he had encouraged his teammates to enjoy the occasion while at the same time insisting the feeling would get better with a win on Sunday.
Additional reporting by Tom Snowdon, Chris Garry, Travis Meyn and Paul Malone

 

[uptheguts]

Re: Justin Hodges on report

By rights, he should be able to challenge and win.

Didn't have a hand between the legs, and didn't engage a lifting motion at all.

Primary impetus was Guerra hopping up into it, as he's admitted, with some contribution from Hunt exerting pressure on his upper body. At no point does Hodges provide any momentum to the direction of Guerra.

Joke if he doesn't get acquitted.

Totally agree. It was just unfortunate that Hunt pulled him down by the collar at precisely the same time Justin lifted one leg . That's all there was to it. A decent lawyer should surely get him off.Can anyone tell me who is on the judiciary? Any Queenslanders?

 

[Foordy]

Re: Justin Hodges on report

I have a bad feeling he will be suspended ...

The Broncos have a 7% success rate at the judiciary ... far worse than any other team ... in fact our record there is so bad that even when our players have a very good case (like Blair this year) the club chooses not to fight in to avoid the longer suspensions.

Since the current judiciary members don't give a shit about the rules or the evidence presented (no other way to explain some of their absolute BS decisions this year), it won't matter what argument we make for him.

I fear that they will use those comments from McCallum as a reason to find him guilty.

In case you can't tell ... I have no faith in the NRL or their judiciary to to the right thing. and that is very sad for the state of the game, when you can't get consistency out of something like the judicary ...

but i certainly hope i'm wrong

#freehodgo

 

[Bull Shark]

Re: Justin Hodges on report

Greg McCallum still trying to screw the Broncos I see.. Why don't they just ask Arthurson and Quayle for their take ?!

 

[Fatboy]

Re: Justin Hodges on report

My inside man in the Broncos said they are not actually confident he will get off.

 

[Browny]

Re: Justin Hodges on report

Just use the Chewbacca defence ffs

 

[noisetheory]

Re: Justin Hodges on report

My inside man in the Broncos said they are not actually confident he will get off.

it'll be a nice moment when copes gives hodgo his ring post match.

 

[Foordy]

Re: Justin Hodges on report

Just use the Chewbacca defence ffs

Can't be any worse than the dodgy knee defence that Pritchard successfully used a couple of weeks ago

 

[GCBRONCO]

Re: Justin Hodges on report

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r2EirLJqghA

 

[OXY-351]

Re: Justin Hodges on report

The history isn't good. Apparently since the year 2000 only 1 Bronco has gotten off after attending a judicary hearing in Sydney. The odds are stacked against us. In my opinion Brisbane should try and get the hearing to be held at the Alhambra Lounge. At least 3 Broncos have gotten off there since 2000.

 

[badyon]

Re: Justin Hodges on report

" I wish the hearing was today"

Not sure Aidan Guerra will be in much shape to give helpful evidence on a mad monday.

 

[Foordy]

Re: Justin Hodges on report

" I wish the hearing was today"

Not sure Aidan Guerra will be in much shape to give helpful evidence on a mad monday.

It doesn't matter what Guerra's evidence is. The judiciary panel won't listen to it ... You know that. They pick their verdicts out of a hat.

Unfortunately for us, when our players go before the judiciary they only put guilty verdicts in that hat.

 

[Kimlo]

Re: Justin Hodges on report

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sp...k=0ed658b8d9fb88655215f4f3421eee27-1443443215

AIDAN Guerra will appear at the NRL judiciary on Tuesday night in a bid to save Broncos skipper Justin Hodges for Sunday night’s grand final against the Cowboys.The Courier-Mail can reveal the Broncos will leverage Guerra’s Queensland Origin ties with Hodges to ensure the retiring centre leads Brisbane onto ANZ Stadium in the NRL decider.
The development comes as NRL match-review committee boss Michael Buettner, the man who charged Hodges, revealed Guerra’s testimony could be decisive at the judiciary.

On Monday the Broncos declared they would fight for Hodges, who was reported for spear-tackling Guerra in the 57th minute of Brisbane’s preliminary final defeat of the Roosters.
In the wake of the loss, Guerra admitted he tried to attract a penalty — and the Roosters hardman is now ready to formally testify in support of his Maroons teammate.
Guerra’s appearance shapes as Brisbane’s trump card and Buettner says the strength of the Rooster’s version of events could help Hodges beat the odds.

“In terms of the judiciary process, I have no doubt Guerra’s position would be taken into account, especially if his comments in the media are formalised by him attending the hearing,” Buettner said.
“That would be regarded as evidence. Then it would be up to the panel to decipher it and decide whether Hodges did enough to contribute to the tackle _ or whether Guerra was the main contributor and Hodges was a victim of circumstances.
“Aidan Guerra has said he contributed to the incident and that may be a fair case to put forward.”
Roosters CEO Brian Canavan said the club had no issues with Guerra supporting Hodges.
“Aidan has fielded a request from the Broncos to appear at the judiciary,” he said.
“At this stage, there’s been no formal decision but if Aidan wishes to support Justin, we would not stand in his way.”

Buettner and Michael Hodgson, both former NRL players, reviewed the Hodges incident and said his charging with a grade-one dangerous throw was a “no brainer”.

Buettner also defended cries of inconsistency between the match-review committee and the judiciary, saying Hodges had every right to mount a strong defence.
“The big thing is the judiciary gets to hear the players’ version of events,” he said.
“I was the bloke who charged Hodges, and it is what it is.
“Every other week of the season it would have attracted the same charged. Emotion does need to come out of it and we as the match-review committee are the first step in the process.
“I get that it’s a grand final and it’s Hodgo’s last game, but we get no satisfaction from the possibility of him missing a grand final.
“We have a job to do and we simply followed the process. If you examine the key factors in a dangerous throw, it was a no-brainer.”
Broncos enforcer Sam Thaiday urged the NRL judiciary to give Hodges the green light for his grand-final swan song.
“I’ve got every confidence Hodgo will be fine, if commonsense prevails he will get off and be there leading us out on Sunday,” he said.
Brisbane halfback Ben Hunt added: “It would be devastating to lose Hodgo, we are all hoping for the best.
“If he doesn’t get through we’re all going to be shattered but we have to get on with the job and whoever would step in would be able to handle the job.”

 

[Harry Sack]

Re: Justin Hodges on report

Good guy Guerra

 

[Nashy]

Re: Justin Hodges on report

I have a bad feeling. I don't think our captain is going to get to play his final game for us.

 

[Kimlo]

Re: Justin Hodges on report

I have a bad feeling. I don't think our captain is going to get to play his final game for us.

He'll be let off. No way they'll suspend him for that shit.