Proof of no consistency: It’s time for judiciary panel to apply some uniformity, writes Phil Rothfield

THESE are the sickening images that highlight the NRL’s inconsistency in dealing with the most dangerous tackle in the game.

THESE are the sickening images that highlight the NRL’s inconsistency in dealing with the most dangerous tackle in the game.

Penrith’s Adam Docker lifting big Bulldog James Graham, yet he escaped a suspension. Bryson Goodwin driving Brett Stewart into the ground. This was judged a grade two and he was suspended for only two games.

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News_Image_File: James Graham is speared into the ground by Adam Docker.

Both incidents look far more serious than Jordon McLean’s lifting tackle on Alex McKinnon.

So too Krisnan Inu’s shocking tackle on Greg Inglis last year.

It was one of the worst I’ve ever seen. He got five weeks.

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The difference is that no-one got seriously injured.

Under NRL guidelines, whether it’s right or wrong, the judiciary is instructed to take the severity of injuries into account.

News_Image_File: Greg Inglis is spear tackled by Krisnan Inu in 2013.

The judiciary panel ruled that McLean’s dangerous throw was worth 325 demerit points – or a three-match suspension.

A further 400 points or four weeks were allocated after taking into account McKinnon’s injury.

Debate over the tragic tackle has split the rugby league fraternity.

On the telegraph.com.au website, 77 per cent of fans said the judiciary verdict was unfair on the Melbourne Storm forward.

It was the same on Twitter on Wednesday night from the moment the judiciary panel rubbed Mclean out for seven weeks.

Nrl... What a joke. All have suffered enough.

— MARK RIDDELL (@riddell009) April 2, 2014

Tough old players like Gorden Tallis are struggling with the decision because of the lack of intent.

“If you just look at the tackle and don’t know what happened after it, he gets nothing,” Tallis said

“Did he lift him and put him in such a dangerous position?

“If poor Alex McKinnon gets up and plays the ball, that’s the last we hear of it

“But in the circumstances we’re talking about a victim who might not walk again.

News_Image_File: NRL inconsistency in treatment of spear tackles.

“It’s a very touchy one and it’s hard to know what to say but in the end I think seven weeks was probably fair because of what happened to Alex.”

The problem comes back to the fact that there has been no consistency over the years.

Suspensions vary depending on which panellists are sitting on which night.

Again, look at former Roosters prop Luke O’Donnell lifting the Wests Tigers’ Tim Simona into this horrific position (above second row on right).

News_Image_File: ...further NRL inconsistency.

He gets only three weeks, less than half of what Mclean finished up with.

The fact the NRL chose to delay the hearing for a week also worked against McLean.

If it had been held like every other case on the Wednesday after the incident, the extent of the injury was still uncertain.

News_Rich_Media: Professor Caroline Finch of the Monash University's Injury Research Unit says the NRL should be applauded for upholding their rules and banning Jordan McLean.

The emotion and despair from the Channel Nine report on Monday that McKinnon had been diagnosed a quadriplegic increased the pressure on the panel to take a tough stand.

NRL head of football Todd Greenberg yesterday said the welfare of McKinnon and McLean remained paramount.

Goodnight all - keep praying for an Alex McKinnon miracle and don't forget Jordan McLean #RiseforAlex

— BUZZ ROTHFIELD (@BuzzRothfield) April 2, 2014

“This is a tragic incident which has affected the lives of both Alex and Jordan and we need to do all we can to support them both,” Greenberg said.

“There has been no case like this in recent memory and it was always going to be a difficult case for the independent panel.

News_Image_File: Justin O'Neill with a dangerous tackle on Corey Norman

Greenberg said judiciary chairman Paul Conlon was bound by the rules.

“There is a process in place which was followed but it is clearly a tragic and extraordinary set of circumstance they were dealing with.”

The NRL is providing counselling and other support for McLean.

The Storm have seven days to appeal the decision.