NRL judiciary clears Bulldogs enforcer David Klemmer of illegally making contact with referee

THE NRL’s crackdown on touching match officials was extinguished when Bulldogs enforcer David Klemmer was exonerated of making contact with referee Ben Cummins.

Dean Ritchie

@BulldogRitchie

2 min read

March 17, 2016 - 7:09AM

Pictured at the NRL judiciary at Moore Park is Bulldogs player David Klemmer, who is fronting the judiciary for making contact with a referee. Picture: Richard Dobson

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THE NRL’s much-hyped crackdown on touching match officials was extinguished on Wednesday night when a three-man judiciary panel exonerated Bulldogs enforcer David Klemmer of illegally making contact with referee Ben Cummins.

Klemmer, the fiery NSW State of Origin prop, pleaded not guilty to a grade one contrary conduct charge. He was facing a two-game suspension after being charged with making on-field contact with Cummins during last Thursday’s match against Penrith at Pepper Stadium.

The NRL has now been left embarrassed after thee other players who touched referees in the opening two rounds — Parramatta’s Corey Norman, Penrith’s Trent Merrin and Wests Tigers five-eighth Mitchell Moses — each avoided a charge.

Clockwise from top left: Klemmer touched Ben Cummins, Trent Merrin makes contact, James Robert took an early guilty plea on his charge, and Mitchell Moses also came under scrutiny.

And the only player to front a judiciary hearing for making contact with a match official was let off. Brisbane’s James Roberts pleaded guilty to touching a referee from last weekend but will not miss a game.

The NRL match review committee has bumbled its way through the past week. Cummins, an NRL employee, actually gave evidence that favoured Klemmer.

Klemmer will now play in Friday night’s massive Sydney derby against Parramatta at ANZ Stadium. The judiciary panel of Bob Lindner, Don McKinnon and Paul Whatuira took just nine minutes to reach a verdict.

“I am very happy with the result, very relieved. I have a lot of respect for the officials,” Klemmer said after the hearing.

Audio played at the hearing clearly caught Klemmer — when touching Cummins — say: “We’ve got a player down, sir”, referring to injured teammate Josh Reynolds.

Cummins actually gave evidence, saying: “I did not notice him making contact with me at the time. I was definitely not aware of it.”

David Klemmer and Bulldogs coach Des Hasler at the NRL judiciary.

A grand final referee, Cummins was only made aware of the drama the following day when Klemmer was charged by the NRL match review committee.

“(That is when) it was brought to my attention,” Cummins said.

Klemmer did not give evidence, his counsel, Nick Ghabar, describing the contact as “innocuous.”

“Not every contact between a player and referee is an offence,” Ghabar said. “It is quite wrong to treat the situation as black and white. Every case should be looked at on its own merits.

“The touch was momentary and not once did Cummins react. It was minor at best. Player Klemmer was not an aggressor in this situation. Player Klemmer pulled his hand away from the referee quickly.”

Bulldogs player David Klemmer after being cleared. Picture: Richard Dobson

Ghabar claimed it “ludicrous” to suggest Klemmer did not “act in the spirit of the game.”

NRL counsel Peter McGrath though took aim at Klemmer’s behaviour.

“There is one very basic, primary rule ... you don’t touch the referee ... you don’t touch the referee,” McGrath said. “This contact we see in evidence was avoidable. It should not have happened. Player Klemmer has a duty to avoid contact with the referee. Any contact with the referee is contrary to the spirit of the game.”

* NORTH Queensland and Maroons prop Matt Scott was found not guilty of a ‘crusher’ tackle on Parramatta’s Kenny Edwards from last Saturday night.