Hull KR successfully challenged a three-match ban handed out to prop Jared Waerea-Hargreaves after both referees involved in the Robins\u2019 win over St Helens insisted his challenge \u2018did not constitute foul play\u2019.<\/p>\n
Waerea-Hargreaves was in danger of missing this weekend\u2019s Super League Grand Final \u2013 the final game of his stellar career \u2013 after being given the ban for a tackle on Bennison during the game on Saturday evening. Bennison subsequently left the field and failed a HIA after play was stopped.<\/p>\n
But Rovers were determined to free up the prop to feature against Wigan on Saturday and, armed with their own legal representation, attended a hearing on Tuesday \u2013 which they won.<\/p>\n
Their arguments for the successful claim based around two key factors. One was a further admission from the referee and video referee that were involved on Saturday night also attending the hearing and insisting they still believed the contact was \u2018minimal\u2019. Rovers insisted that the Match Review Panel were attempting to overrule two experience referees.<\/p>\n
However, more crucially, Rovers were able to convince the tribunal that there was significant evidence of earlier tackles on Bennison in the minutes prior to his departure on the field that could have caused him to subsequently fail a concussion, given symptoms can delayed in onset.<\/p>\n
No medical evidence was produced proving that the Bennison concussion was caused by Waerea-Hargreaves\u2019 tackle and in the notes, it states: \u201cNo evidence has been provided from the club or the player. Both would have been simple and straightforward to produce.\u201d<\/p>\n
That led the tribunal to agree with Rovers that Waerea-Hargreaves should not be charged over the incident, upholding his original not guilty plea.<\/p>\n
They said: \u201cThe Chair led a detailed review of the incident involving JWH\u2019s tackle on John (sic) Bennison, with input from Match Officials, the Compliance Manager for the Match Review Panel, and arguments from the club, ultimately concluding that the tackle did not constitute forceful or dangerous head contact and did not merit further action.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe explained that the hearing focused on JWH\u2019s involvement in a tackle on John (sic) Bennison, which resulted in Bennison appearing concussed and failing a head injury assessment. Both Match Officials attended the hearing, confirmed their original view that the contact was minimal, and repeated their assessment that the incident did not constitute foul play.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Compliance Manager explained that the Match Review Panel took a different view from the Match Officials, motivated by the fact that Bennison was clearly concussed and failed his head injury assessment, leading them to conclude the contact was forceful and dangerous, warranting a Grade C charge.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe club argued, relying on the Match Officials\u2019 views, that the contact was minimal and not forceful or dangerous, emphasizing that both JWH and Bennison were going down during the tackle and that JWH described his actions as a \u201cstacking tackle\u201d with feet on the ground and no launching motion.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Chair noted that while Bennison failed the head injury assessment, there was also evidence of heavier contact minutes earlier involving Bennison and three other players, making it unclear whether JWH\u2019s tackle directly caused the head injury, especially in the absence of medical evidence.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe concluded that the evidence overwhelmingly supported the Match Officials\u2019 view of minimal force and significant mitigation, with no aggravating factors, and that it was not proven to their satisfaction that any offence occurred, so no further action was warranted.\u201d<\/p>\n
WEDNESDAY\u2019S READS ON LRL<\/p>\n
\ud83d\udc49\ud83c\udffb Super League Grand Final prize money confirmed as winners set for big windfall<\/a><\/p>\n \ud83d\udc49\ud83c\udffb Rob Burrow Award odds revealed as Wigan Warriors star ranks top and star duo joint-second<\/a><\/p>\n \ud83d\udc49\ud83c\udffb Former Wigan Warriors hooker makes rugby league return as new club confirmed<\/a><\/p>\n