Here's the fundamental problem with our judiciary system.
http://www.sportal.com.au/league-news-display/smith-backs-cronk-to-escape-sanction-236810
The media, and Cronk's teammates, seeking to influence the grading of the tackle based on Cronk's "clean record". This is ludicrous. It defies logic.
The ONLY time a player's record should be taken into account is in the loading applied to any guilty plea/verdict.
It should NEVER be taken into account in deciding whether to send off, whether to grade, or what grading. Those decisions should be based SOLELY on the FACTS of the particular instance.
However, in reality, especially with SOO1, who could believe that Cronk will be dispassionately and unbiasedly graded based on the actual facts of the case? If it was say Matai (or now Faaoso) we all know exactly what the media would be screaming for in terms of grading for an identical tackle. And we all would know what to expect.