NRL 2022: Brandon Smith suspension for referee slur sends ‘wrong message’ to junior league

A prominent grassroots refereeing official has blasted Brandon Smith’s suspension, claiming the Storm star should have been banned for more than three games for his ‘cheating’ ref slur.

Storm star Brandon Smith. Picture: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images

The chairman of Penrith’s Referees’ Association has blasted Brandon Smith’s suspension, claiming the Storm star should have been banned from playing for eight games.

Garry Haines couldn’t believe Smith was suspended for three matches at an NRL judiciary hearing on Tuesday night after calling referee Adam Gee a “cheating b------” last weekend.

Smith was sin-binned for the comment in Melbourne’s 28-6 loss to Cronulla.

Melbourne argued for a two-week ban but the judiciary imposed a three-game suspension.

Asked for initial thoughts when told Smith had been banished for three games, Haines said: “They must be kidding? They can’t be serious?

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Brandon Smith copped a three-match ban for his ref slur. Picture: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images

“It sent the wrong message. If you take what happens in junior league with the NSWRL, it’s eight weeks.

“The frustration I had was this is going to have an impact right down to grassroots level.

“I was really disappointed. I’ve been involved with the referees for more than 40 years.

“I was annoyed at the suspension. It was referred straight to the judiciary and wasn’t given a grading. We have done so much work to try and get this abuse and threats towards referees cut down. There is so much work that has to be done to retain referees.

“It’s factual that parents are concerned about their children taking up refereeing. And that’s the sort of stuff that bugs me.”

Smith later apologised for his on-field comment.

“My performance was poor and my team’s performance was poor. I took it out on the wrong person. I said things I shouldn’t have said to a person,” he said. “I’m not here to argue I’ve done the wrong thing. I just want to let everyone know I feel terrible and I’ll accept any consequence you come up with. I know I’ve done the wrong thing.”

Haines said Smith’s apology shouldn’t have been considered when discussing a verdict.

‘Embarrassed’ Smith cops ban for ‘cheating’ ref slur

-Fatima Kdouh

Melbourne’s Brandon Smith has been whacked with a three-match ban after calling referee Adam Gee “a cheating bastard” in the Storm’s loss to Cronulla last week.

Smith’s counsel Nick Ghabar failed in his bid to convince the judiciary panel, in a 52-minute hearing, that a two week ban would be a sufficient punishment given the forward’s genuine ‘remorse’ over the incident.

The two-man panel of Tony Puletua and Paul Simpkins unanimously agreed on the verdict, citing that: “offending of this nature has a potentially adverse effect on young players who seek to emulate those playing in the NRL competition…and an adverse effect on those who might aspire to become match officials.”

An emotional Smith, who pleaded guilty to a contract conduct charge after being sent straight to the judiciary, admitted to the slur and said it was a ‘brain explosion’.

Brandon Smith apologised for his ref slur. Picture: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images

Gee sent Smith to the sin-bin while Melbourne were in possession of the ball after hearing the comment.

Smith had been tackled in the prior play by Aiden Tolman and had taken exception to the Sharks forward attempts to slow down the play the ball.

“I felt like Tolman pulled me down with an extra effort, I thought that would warrant a six again penalty. I was wrong for what I said, I’m not trying to argue that. I have already pleaded guilty. I let my frustrations get the better of me in that instance. I said something I regret. As I’m trying to get up, I say ‘f**k me’, because I was frustrated. I got up and continued with my frustration and I directed those words at the ref, which was a brain explosion,” Smith said.

Smith broke down in tears when he was being grilled by NRL counsel Lachlan Gyles about setting a “terrible example” for young fans watching the game.

“What you did in this match was a terrible example to those kids who watch you as an NRL player… to see a professional player of your standard call the referee a cheat,” Gyles told Smith.

Gyles accepted Smith had shown remorse but urged the judiciary panel to make an example of the Melbourne forward and hand down a ban of at least four weeks.

Gyles also put it to Smith that had actually called Gee “a f***king cheating p***k, which the Storm forward denied.

“It’s a very dangerous term to use and has serious connotations… the use of that term is not acceptable and a substantial sanction should be proposed to illustrate the unacceptable nature of this conduct,” Gyles said.

“Even with the guilty plea, the player’s honesty and remorse, which is accepted, with the references from Michael Maguire… I recommend there still be a suspension of a minimum of four weeks.”

But Ghabar argued that the sin-bin during the match and a two-week ban would be sufficient in acting as a general deterrent to other NRL players and that a greater suspension would not take into account that Smith was “contrite” for labelling the referee “a cheat.”

Part of Smith’s defence included a character reference from New Zealand coach Michael Maguire.

Brandon Smith. Picture: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images

The former Wests Tigers coach told the judiciary that Smith’s conduct was out of character.

“Brandon is an exceptionally talented and committed player, he is very popular amongst his team, and in terms of the way he plays the game and his vibrant personality. He’s a larrikin. But has always shown he is respectful of authority and match officials in particular. I find it out of character for Brandon to have acted this way towards a referee,” Maguire said.

The panel praised Smith’s honesty and the fact the 26-year old went out of his way to apologise to Gee at Pointsbet Stadium.

“I went into the sheds and told Frank (Ponissi) straight away that I f***ed up. I told him what I said and he was very disappointed,” Smith said.

“After the game I asked Frank if I could see the ref to apologise and I did. I went and said my sorries and told him it was out of character.

“I’m embarrassed. I will accept any consequence given to me tonight.”

Smith was the third player referred straight to the judiciary this season. Newcastle’ Mitch Barnett copped a six week ban after a sickening off the ball hit on Penrith’s Chris Smith and New Zealand’s Marcelo Montoya was banned for a month after a homophobic slur.

In 2000, Gorden Tallis escaped any punishment after he was sent off in Origin I after calling referee Bill Harrigan “ f**king cheat”.

Originally published as NRL 2022: Brandon Smith suspension for referee slur sends ‘wrong message’ to junior league