All NRL Games [Round 9, 2025]

[HK_Eagle]

The mrc and the judiciary are different 'panels of people' and so members of the mrc don't sit on the appeals panel.

I don't officially know the answer to the second question but I assume that they are independent of one another.

NRL Judiciary, explained: When it sits, how it works and who is on it | Sporting News Australia

The Match Review Committee (MRC) and NRL Judiciary form the two-tier system upon which all on-field matters are governed in the competition. The Sporting News explains how the two works in tandem within the NRL.

www.sportingnews.com

NRL Judiciary - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

Thanks for the reply, Global. It is an interesting and important question for the integrity of the game... jokes aside.

 

[HK_Eagle]

Here in China, they don't even bother with those sorts of window dressing charades... small victories? 🤷‍♂️

 

[globaleagle]

Thanks for the reply, Global. It is an interesting and important question for the integrity of the game... jokes aside.

Your question sent my mind spinning off and thought of this:

Why does the nrl need a lawyer when a player decides to fight the charge at the 'totally independent' judiciary?

If it goes to the judiciary, all involved know about the tackle or infraction that has taken place.
Why isn't it more like:
Judiciary (J): Well you've been charged, show us why you disagree.
Player's Lawyer: "Here's the footage and what we believe is an incorrect ruling, etc.

We're told the mrc is 'totally independent' from the refs and the nrl, so why do the nrl need to send a lawyer to defend the mrc's decision - if they are independent?

At most, shouldn't the 'prosecutor' be a member of the MRC seeing as they are the one's who laid the charge?
Ok, if so why isn't the mrc the prosecutor, and not some nrl lawyer (who probably never played footy).
Maybe we're so used to the court system style that we feel we need a prosecutor, a defender, and a judge/jury.
So the more I think about it - people are going to say:
We need a prosecutor to show the judiciary why the mrc says there is guilt, and a defendant to fight the charge.

Which leads me to think about the call to only rule using replays in real time. People say that using slo-mo replays, mistakes can be found more often than not. But then when a case goes to the judiciary, they use freeze frames, super slo-mo repays, etc to try and prove guilt/innocence.

So forget everything I just typed.

#coffee

 

[TJ55]

I've found that the members of the Judiciary seem so offended that they have to come in to do their work, that they very rarely let anyone off.

It's like they say: "The ref pinged ya, the mrc fined ya...what are you complaining to us for??"

Update:

Preston unsuccessful - now out for 4 matches!

NRL Judiciary Report: Preston's Origin hopes dashed after four-match ban

Bulldogs forward Jacob Preston will miss the next four premiership matches and is out of contention for NSW selection in Origin I and II.

www.nrl.com

Bulldogs forward Jacob Preston will miss the next four matches for the Telstra Premiership ladder leaders and has been ruled out of contention for NSW selection in Origin I and II.

Preston fronted the NRL judiciary on Tuesday night to contest a Grade 1 Crusher Tackle charge for a tackle on Titans captain Tino Fa'asuamaleaui in the 76th minute of Sunday's game at Suncorp Stadium.

Dissapointing but expected, unfortunately regardless which team this is how it rolls these days apparently but if he felt the need to truly fight it good on him. I still think the referring needs to be overhauled

 

[Rafferty]

Dissapointing but expected, unfortunately regardless which team this is how it rolls these days apparently but if he felt the need to truly fight it good on him. I still think the referring needs to be overhauled

Yer it’s a loss for your side mate, no two ways about it, but I agree it’s good to see a player attempt to defend himself on the grounds he feels his innocent or believes theres mitigating circumstances.

The whole officialdom thing feels way off at the moment, the referring is dreadfully inconsistent. The heavy handed policing that takes place on certain actions one week but not the next aligns with complete incompetence, then don’t start me on the six agains, they reek of game management, anyways….

Just reading globals previous posts re the judiciary, I’d like to know the last time someone had their charges overturned and or the win loss rate for the judiciary, even the legal system doesn’t run a 100% conviction rate, (close) but that would give the game away, I guess I’m just not sure about the integrity of the game at present, there’s a lot to dislike.

 

[SeaEagleRock8]

So forget everything I just typed.

I have.
But this popped into my mind anyway.

… in a criminal court the state (cops) lays a charge and a professional prosecutor presents the case on behalf of the state, the accused is entitled to put their defence, and the independent court (a judge or jury) decides who won.

In NRL, the NRL is the state.

Some cops might like to turn up to court and argue their case against a lawyer hired by the accused..
... but many might not!

Similarly the NRL cops - members of the MRC panel (who may be an ex-player, such as Manly’s Robbo in recent times) - believe they have evidence of an offence, yet not be keen or competent to personally stand up in a formal setting and argue their case against an experienced lawyer (hired by the player)(club) who is specifically trained and skilled at arguing a case to a court. (There's a reason why rich people hire the most expensive lawyers, they can sometimes get a better result!!)

So .. the NRL also hires a professional lawyer to present its case

(In both cases the ‘court’ is paid by the state but is nevertheless independent) (or that’s the idea anyhow)