NRL Judiciary

The NRL Judiciary is the disciplinary judiciary of the National Rugby League (NRL), a rugby league competition. The Judiciary regulates the on-field conduct of players from NRL clubs.[1][2]

Due to changes announced on the eve of the 2022 NRL season,[3] the NRL Judiciary is made up of former players who convene in two-man panels to rule on on-field incidents. The judiciary has been chaired by Supreme Court of NSW Justice Geoffrey Bellew since 2015.[4] Bellew has the deciding vote should the panel's verdict not be unanimous.[3]

From 2022, the Match Review Committee deciding on whether charges are issued against players for on-field conduct is managed by former NRL player and video referee Luke Patten.[3]

An integrity unit was formed on 7 February 2013 and is headed by former Federal Court judge Tony Whitlam.[5]

## Penalties Table

[edit]

Updated for 2022 NRL season.[3]

Offence  | Grade  | 1st Offence
(Early plea in brackets) | 2nd Offence
(Early plea in brackets) | 3rd Offence
(Early plea in brackets)

|
|
|
|

High Tackle \- Careless  | 1 | $1,500 ($1,000) | $2,500 ($1,800) | 2 matches ($3,000)
2 | 2 matches (1) | 3 matches (2) | 4 matches (3)
3 | 3 matches (2) | 4 matches (3) | 5 matches (4)
High Tackle - Reckless  | 4(1)[a] | 4 matches (3) | 5 matches (4) | 6 matches (5)
5(2) | 5 matches (4) | 6 matches (5) | 7 matches (6)
6(3) | 6 matches (5) | 7 matches (6) | 8 matches (7)
Dangerous Contact  | 1 | $1,500 ($1,000) | $2,500 ($1,800) | 2 matches ($3,000)
2 | 2 matches (1) | 3 matches (2) | 4 matches (3)
3 | 3 matches (2) | 4 matches (3) | 5 matches (4)
Dangerous Throw  | 1 | $1,500 ($1,000) | $2,500 ($1,800) | 3 matches (2)
2 | 3 matches (2) | 4 matches (3) | 5 matches (4)
3 | 5 matches (4) | 6 matches (5) | 7 matches (6)
Striking  | 1 | $2,000 ($1,500) | 2 matches ($3,000) | 4 matches (3)
2 | 3 matches (2) | 4 matches (3) | 5 matches (4)
3 | 4 matches (3) | 5 matches (4) | 6 matches (5)
Crusher Tackle  | 1 | $2,000 ($1,500) | 2 matches ($3,000) | 4 matches (3)
2 | 3 matches (2) | 4 matches (3) | 5 matches (4)
3 | 4 matches (3) | 5 matches (4) | 6 matches (5)
Contrary Conduct  | 1 | $1,500 ($1,000) | $2,500 ($1,800) | 2 matches ($3,000)
2 | 2 matches (1) | 3 matches (2) | 4 matches (3)
3 | 3 matches (2) | 4 matches (3) | 5 matches (4)
Shoulder Charge | 1 | $2,000 ($1,500) | 2 matches ($3,000) | 4 matches (3)
2 | 3 matches (2) | 4 matches (3) | 5 matches (4)
3 | 4 matches (3) | 5 matches (4) | 6 matches (5)

## Personnel

[edit]

NRL Judiciary

* Chair: Geoff Bellew
* Panel members: Bob Lindner, Tony Puletua, Henry Perenara, Sean Hampstead, Greg McCullum, Paul Simpkins
* Judiciary counsel: Lachlan Gyles, Patrick Knowles

Match Review Committee

* Manager: Luke Patten
* Members: Michael Hodgson, Anthony Quinn, Steve Clark, Stuart Raper

Reference(s):[6][7]

## History

[edit]

The NRL Judiciary was formed in 1998 after the reunification of the game in Australia, following the Super League war. Judiciary hearings were generally held on Tuesday nights, following the completion of each round of matches. Charges would be laid against players by the NRL Match Review Committee (MRC), originally chaired from 1998–2003 by judiciary commissioner Jim Hall. Hall was originally appointed by Super League to be that competition's judiciary commissioner, and was joined by Graham Annesley and Ron Massey to form the MRC.[8]

The MRC would review incidents where players were either sent off or reported by the referee; subject to a complaint by an opposition club, or another source; or observed by the MRC. If a charge was warranted, the MRC would grade the serious of the offence and players and clubs would have the opportunity to take an early guilty plea to avoid a hearing. If the player chose the defend the charge, the hearing would be held by the NRL Judiciary under chairman Greg Woods and a panel of former players.[8]

The hearing would be similar to a jury trial where the chairman provides rulings and direction to the panel members, and after hearing the evidence the panel members would deliberate. If found guilty the table of demerit point penalties would determine the number of matches players would be suspended after the verdict.[8]

Jim Hall would be sacked as judiciary commissioner in January 2004 by then NRL CEO David Gallop, with the league splitting the role after a number of controversies during the 2003 NRL season.[9]

### Suspensions

[edit]

#### NRL records

[edit]

Source:[10]

Player  | Charges  | Season  | Matches
suspended  | Club

|
|
|
|

Danny Williams | Striking  | 2004 | 18  |  Melbourne Storm
John Hopoate | Striking  | 2005 | 17  |  Manly Warringah Sea Eagles
James Graham | Biting  | 2012 | 12  |  Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs
Clint Newton | Striking  | 2004 | 12  |  Newcastle Knights
John Hopoate | 3 × Contrary conduct  | 2001 | 12  |  Wests Tigers
Josh Stuart | 2 × high tackles  | 1998 | 12[11] |  North Sydney Bears
Luke O'Donnell | Reckless high tackle  | 2003 | 11  |  Wests Tigers
Lopini Paea | Dangerous Throw  | 2006 | 10  |  Sydney Roosters
Luke MacDougall | Dangerous Throw  | 2005 | 10  |  South Sydney Rabbitohs
Tim Maddison | Striking  | 2002 | 10  |  North Queensland Cowboys
Greg Bird | Dangerous contact - head/neck  | 2004 | 10  |  Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks

### Previous points table

[edit]

System in place from 1998-2021, this version from 2017-2021.[12]
100 points = 1 match suspension

Offence  | Grade 1  | Grade 2  | Grade 3

|
|
|

Tripping  | $1,500 or 100  | 200  | 300
Kicking  | 200  | 300  | 400
Striking  | 200  | 300  | 400
Reckless high tackle  | 400  | 500  | 600
Intentional high tackle  | Refer to panel
Careless high tackle  | $1,500 or 100  | 200  | 300
Dropping Knees  | 200  | 300  | 400
Dangerous Throw  | $1,500 or 100  | 300  | 500
Contrary conduct  | $1,500 or 100  | 200  | 300
Detrimental conduct  | $1,500 or 100  | 200  | 300
Dangerous contact - head/neck  | 100  | 300  | 500
Dangerous contact - other  | 100  | 200  | 300
Shoulder charge  | 200  | 350  | 500
Crusher tackle  | 200  | 350  | 500

## See also

[edit]

* Sports portal

* AFL Tribunal
* List of players sent off in National Rugby League matches

## Notes

[edit]

1. ^ High Tackle Reckless is effectively treated as a grade up from High Tackle Careless

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Judiciary Code".
2. ^ "News". 13 May 2024.
3. ^ a b c d "NRL confirm enhancements to judiciary and MRC". NRL.com. National Rugby League. 10 March 2022. Retrieved 23 March 2022.
4. ^ Browning, Jennifer (5 March 2015). "NRL appointment of Honourable Justice Geoff Bellew welcomed by predecessor Paul Conlon". abc.net.au. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 23 March 2022.
5. ^ "NRL creates integrity unit in response to Crime Commission probe into Australian sport". Smh.com.au. 24 July 2012. Retrieved 1 July 2013.
6. ^ "How does the system work?". NRL.com. Retrieved 9 January 2025.
7. ^ Middleton, David (ed.). 2024 Official Rugby League Annual. McMahon's Point: League Information Services. p. 4.
8. ^ a b c McKewen, Trevor, ed. (17 June 1998). "The NRL Judiciary - A plain English guide". Big League. 79 (16). Sydney, New South Wales: Pacific Publications Pty Ltd: 24–25.
9. ^ "Rugby League: Warriors brawl factor in NRL sacking of Hall". The New Zealand Herald. 25 January 2004. Retrieved 2 June 2023.
10. ^ "The longest NRL suspensions in the modern era". www.sportingnews.com. 25 July 2017. Retrieved 15 June 2020.
11. ^ Middleton, David (October 1998). Rugby League 1999. Sydney: Harper Sports. pp. 89–91\. ISBN 0732267773.
12. ^ "NRL - Judiciary Code". NRL.com. National Rugby League. Archived from the original on 12 November 2020. Retrieved 23 March 2022.

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[edit]

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