Kieran Foran latest NRL player charged with referee contact

PARRAMATTA Eels will decide whether star recruit Kieran Foran fights an NRL charge over touching a referee.

Dean Ritchie

less than 2 min read

March 21, 2016 - 6:08PM

Parramatta's Kieran Foran during the round 3 NRL game between the Canterbury Bulldogs and the Parramatta Eels at ANZ Stadium,Homebush.Picture Gregg Porteous

NRL

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PARRAMATTA will decide whether star recruit Kieran Foran fights an NRL charge over touching a referee.

Foran was charged with grade one contrary conduct for making marginal contact with a match official in last Friday night’s match against Parramatta at ANZ Stadium.

Eels officials will ask Foran on Tuesday whether he wants to fight the charge at an NRL judiciary hearing tomorrow night. Parramatta will also view video evidence of the moment.

The NRL have been left red-faced after the match review committee failed to identify several incidents over the opening two rounds where players came into contact with a referee. Bulldogs forward David Klemmer fought and won his charge at a judiciary hearing last Wednesday night.

Foran won’t miss a game by pleading guilty but may want to contest the charge out of principle. There is every chance, given the Klemmer verdict, that Foran would win at the judiciary.

There is growing calls in rugby league for players who accidentally touch a referee to be fined, not charged. AFL officials altered their rules several ago where players who make innocuous contact with a ref are fined or issued with a warning.

Foran touched referee Matt Cecchin’s back in the 45th minute of Parramatta’s win.

Newcastle’s Sione Mata’utia (grade one, dangerous throw), Penrith’s Jeremy Latimore (grade one, dangerous contact, head/neck) Panthers teammate Sam McKendry (grade one, high tackle, careless), Wests Tigers’ Chris Lawrence (grade one, dangerous throw) Souths’ Paul Carter (grade two, dangerous contact) and Rabbitohs’ teammate Kirisome Auva’a (grade one, dangerous contact, head/neck) were also charged.