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Judiciary has lost its cojones

Judiciary has lost its cojones

06/10/2010 01:59:51 AM

The NRL judiciary is the laughing stock of the sporting community after losing its cojones when assessing high-profile players' illegal actions.

Three decisions have baffled pundits, to the point where it became shocking - yet unsurprising - that superstars were obviously treated differently to others; in doing so, putting them above the normal laws of the game, diminishing morality and credibility.

Johnathan Thurston - considered by many to be the best player in the NRL - was charged and exonerated of using the F-bomb eight times at referee Jason Robinson last week.

Had the outburst not come at the end of the match Thurston may well have found himself taking an early shower.

Andrew Johns played 249 games for the Knights, 24 Tests for Australia and made 23 appearances for the Blues but he was fined and suspended for two matches in 2006 after calling a touch judge a 'f****** c***' - once.

The judiciary took 20 minutes to decide Thurston's fate - his lawyer saying you would hear worse language on Underbelly.

What kind of precedent does that set, keeping in mind viewers of all ages heard the outburst?

However, broadcasting the expletive-laden remarks for days after the incident wasn't the greatest move from the NRL's website.

The next perplexing incident saw Eels fullback Jarryd Hayne escape punishment after blatantly head-butting Billy Slater in the face.

So scared was the judiciary of seeing one Origin match minus a crowd pleaser, it also failed to charge Slater for two separate forearm strikes.

Hayne's decision took eight minutes.

Yet, Rabbitohs and Kiwis hooker Isaac Luke had his appeal of a dangerous contact charge on Thurston thrown out, therefore receiving a one-match suspension.

Had it been a Kiwis v Kangaroos Test, rather than an Origin match, there's no doubt the double standards argument would have been raised.

Queensland's Israel Folau's selection back-flip also did little for the game's reputation.

Maroons captain Daren Lockyer had previously called for Folau's exclusion. But after Brent Tate was ruled out with a broken jaw, Lockyer was the first to rebut his comments and plead with selectors to include the high-flying AFL bound talent.

Australian Rugby League is now seeking to introduce a new rule - before Origin's Game 3 - that bars any code converts from playing representative football.

What a shambles.

 
Photograph Copyright : Getty Images

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