Thought maybe some of you guys would like to read about the NRL basically admitting they protected Gallen so he could play Origin:
http://www.leaguehq.com.au/news/news/nrl-admits-gallen-escaped-charge/2008/06/26/1214472674655.html
NRL officials have confirmed that NSW and Cronulla back-rower Paul Gallen was millimetres away from a judiciary charge that would have threatened his place in next week's Origin decider.
Gallen dropped his forearm on the Eels' Josh Cordoba last Sunday, and his actions in trying to get the injured Parramatta prop to his feet yesterday prompted an official warning to all players. Gallen, who received a three-game ban earlier this year for raking the face of Gold Coast second-rower and Blues teammate Anthony Laffranchi after he returned to the field sporting stitches from a nasty head wound, came under scrutiny from the match review committee for striking Cordoba as he lay on the ground after being concussed in a heavy tackle by Isaac De Gois. Gallen then tapped the Eels forward on the head several times to suggest he get up.
In their weekly report on all incidents reviewed from round 16 games, the committee yesterday described Gallen's behaviour as "unnecessary and concerning" but said it did not warrant any further action. However, match review commissioner Greg McCallum indicated Gallen had only escaped a striking charge because the blow to Cordoba had glanced the back of his head and did not contain much force.
"To charge a player with striking, it has to be either intentional or highly reckless, and we viewed this incident as probably being more careless than anything," McCallum told the Herald. "There was only minimal contact but had there been more force and more direct contact to the head, we would have looked at it a bit differently."
Of more concern to the NRL was the way he attempted to encourage Cordoba to get off the ground - an act that has also angered Parramatta players, with Nathan Hindmarsh this week accusing Gallen of "taking it too far". As a result, in the weekly report sent by the NRL's chief operating officer, Graham Annesley, clubs were told yesterday to remind their players of the possible legal ramifications of such actions.
"Some time ago the NRL had cause to warn all clubs in relation to a number of incidents where players made unnecessary contact with an injured opponent in the belief that injury was being feigned. This can be an extremely dangerous practice," Annesley wrote. "Any physical contact with an injured player is not the responsibility of any other player on the field, even if it is a genuine attempt to assist the injured player. All players are again reminded that such actions are not only in breach of the rules but could also have serious liability implications if any injury is exacerbated as a result of their actions."
The NRL's chief medical officer, Dr Hugh Hazard, also advised players not to touch an injured opponent or teammate - even if they thought he was faking. "If a player has sustained a cervical spine injury, a potentially serious injury can easily be converted into a catastrophic spinal injury by inappropriate intervention," Hazard said.
Eels chief executive Denis Fitzgerald earlier this week sent a formal complaint to the NRL about Gallen's behaviour, while a number of Parramatta players have spoken out.
"I'm pissed off … and a few of the boys aren't happy about it either because he took it too far," Hindmarsh told Rugby League Week. "He has a bit of a reputation for this sort of behaviour with the Anthony Laffranchi facial, and he needs to stop it."
Veteran lock Daniel Wagon said: "When a bloke is knocked out on the ground and you smack him in the head … it's not in the spirit of the game. But you come to expect it from these types of players, don't you."
Brad Walter
http://www.leaguehq.com.au/news/news/nrl-admits-gallen-escaped-charge/2008/06/26/1214472674655.html
NRL officials have confirmed that NSW and Cronulla back-rower Paul Gallen was millimetres away from a judiciary charge that would have threatened his place in next week's Origin decider.
Gallen dropped his forearm on the Eels' Josh Cordoba last Sunday, and his actions in trying to get the injured Parramatta prop to his feet yesterday prompted an official warning to all players. Gallen, who received a three-game ban earlier this year for raking the face of Gold Coast second-rower and Blues teammate Anthony Laffranchi after he returned to the field sporting stitches from a nasty head wound, came under scrutiny from the match review committee for striking Cordoba as he lay on the ground after being concussed in a heavy tackle by Isaac De Gois. Gallen then tapped the Eels forward on the head several times to suggest he get up.
In their weekly report on all incidents reviewed from round 16 games, the committee yesterday described Gallen's behaviour as "unnecessary and concerning" but said it did not warrant any further action. However, match review commissioner Greg McCallum indicated Gallen had only escaped a striking charge because the blow to Cordoba had glanced the back of his head and did not contain much force.
"To charge a player with striking, it has to be either intentional or highly reckless, and we viewed this incident as probably being more careless than anything," McCallum told the Herald. "There was only minimal contact but had there been more force and more direct contact to the head, we would have looked at it a bit differently."
Of more concern to the NRL was the way he attempted to encourage Cordoba to get off the ground - an act that has also angered Parramatta players, with Nathan Hindmarsh this week accusing Gallen of "taking it too far". As a result, in the weekly report sent by the NRL's chief operating officer, Graham Annesley, clubs were told yesterday to remind their players of the possible legal ramifications of such actions.
"Some time ago the NRL had cause to warn all clubs in relation to a number of incidents where players made unnecessary contact with an injured opponent in the belief that injury was being feigned. This can be an extremely dangerous practice," Annesley wrote. "Any physical contact with an injured player is not the responsibility of any other player on the field, even if it is a genuine attempt to assist the injured player. All players are again reminded that such actions are not only in breach of the rules but could also have serious liability implications if any injury is exacerbated as a result of their actions."
The NRL's chief medical officer, Dr Hugh Hazard, also advised players not to touch an injured opponent or teammate - even if they thought he was faking. "If a player has sustained a cervical spine injury, a potentially serious injury can easily be converted into a catastrophic spinal injury by inappropriate intervention," Hazard said.
Eels chief executive Denis Fitzgerald earlier this week sent a formal complaint to the NRL about Gallen's behaviour, while a number of Parramatta players have spoken out.
"I'm pissed off … and a few of the boys aren't happy about it either because he took it too far," Hindmarsh told Rugby League Week. "He has a bit of a reputation for this sort of behaviour with the Anthony Laffranchi facial, and he needs to stop it."
Veteran lock Daniel Wagon said: "When a bloke is knocked out on the ground and you smack him in the head … it's not in the spirit of the game. But you come to expect it from these types of players, don't you."
Brad Walter
