NRL judiciary ban Latrell and Panthers star as Radley free to play

The NRL judiciary’s busy night has seen Latrell Mitchell cop it sweet as two players were suspended, while another was successful.

The NRL judiciary have handed down lengthy bans to Latrell Mitchell and Paul Momirovski but Victor Radley has been cleared after all three men sought to get their grade two charges downgraded.

Paul Momirovski was first up and handed a three match ban by the judiciary and Mitchell was banned for four games, while Radley was given a reprieve, winning a downgrade and will be free to play on Sunday.

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The judiciary panel consists of Ben Creagh, Dallas Johnson and Bob Lindner.

Latrell banned for four weeks

Latrell Mitchell has been banned for four week after his bid to downgrade his grade two charge failed.

Mitchell had a controversial weekend, coming up on three charges from the clash with the Tigers, including a kick out at Luke Garner, while also being charged for sliding into Garner with his knees after he scored a try. He was charged $1600 for each of these incidents.

But he is facing four-weeks on the sideline after he was charged over his high tackle on David Nofoaluma.

Mitchell hit Nofoaluma in the face while defending as the Tigers winger kicked for fullback Daine Laurie’s try.

Latrell Mitchell hit David Nofoaluma high.

NRL counsel Peter McGrath argued that Nofoaluma had a bloodied mouth because of the play, but admitted that Mitchell had jumped and turned his back, which showed he didn't intend to hurt the winger.

But he called it “extremely careless.

But Mitchell’s representative Nick Ghabar said it was “unusual circumstances” that the incident occured with Mitchell trying to pull out of the contact.

Ghabar argued “short of player Mitchell having eyes in the back of his head”, he wouldn’t have known where Nofoaluma would have been when he made contact.

He also argued that there was no evidence the Nofoaluma’s bloodied mouth came from Mitchell, arguing it was his forearm rather than his elbow that hit the Tiger.

But it wasn’t enough to sway the committee as he will now be sidelined for four weeks.

Mitchell is also likely out of the Dally M reckoning, losing three Dally M points for each week suspended, meaning he’ll have one point left.

It also appears to put his Origin aspirations on ice, with just two weeks to remind selectors of his ability on return.

The Australian’s Brent Read said sources within the NSW camp said he was “certain to be in Blues squad”.

Radley wins downgrade, free to play

Victor Radley has won a downgrade after his high tackle on Cameron Munster.

He will now only need to pay a $1900 fine and will be free to play the Dragons on Sunday afternoon.

Radley declined to talk to media but flashed a smile and a thumbs up on his way out of the hearing.

Radley’s high shot on Cameron Munster sparked plenty of debate over the weekend, looking at whether it should have been a send off, and whether sides would look to game the new concussion rules.

NRL counsel Nick McGrath said it was “plain to see that player Radley was wrong-footed” by Munster and that he carelessly “threw out” his arm.

McGrath also pointed to Munster leaving the field but quickly returning, something the Storm admitted was “tactical”, but said it didn’t mean there wasn’t risk of injury, as Radley ran off the line quickly and appeared to hit Munster with a closed fist.

But McGrath also pointed to two grade one tackles to compare to, something Radley’s representative James McLeod jumped on.

The pic only tells half the story.

He said that McGrath’s choices showed that it should be seen as a grade one.

McLeod argued it was “clumsy” but that it was low force.

“It’s not a forearm, it’s not a stiff-arm, it’s not a clenched fist as my friend suggested – it’s a grabbing action,” McLeod was quoted as saying by the NRL.com.

“[Radley’s] wrongdoing is limited to someone who got out of position threw out an arm, tried to grab the ball-carrier and got it slightly wrong.”

Momirovski rubbed out for three matches

Paul Momirovski has failed to downgrade his high shot on Tom Dearden, despite the shot being missed on field during the Panthers’ win over the Broncos and will spend the next three weeks on the sideline.

It was the 16th minute of the first half of the clash but the referees didn’t react, although it was seen by the commentators.

“Momirovski definitely takes high Dearden out late and it looked a little dangerous,” Fox League’s Braith Anasta said.

“Usually given a penalty I would think. They’ve missed on there.”

“He ends up quite clearly around the head there of Tom Dearden,” Warren Smith added.

But he was handed the three week suspension.

Momirovski definitely didn't miss Dearden.

NRL counsel Peter McGrath told the panel that Momirovski “launched himself into the tackle” and left his feet, making the contact “unacceptable”.

It was compared to an incident from last season where retired Roosters hooker Jake Friend was charged with and pleaded guilty a grade one contact on the Dragons’ Adam Clune, with McGrath explaining that Friend stayed on the ground was “less careless” than Momirovski.

Momirovski’s representative Nick Ghabar argued the high contact came from Dearden lifting his arm to defend himself, pushing Momirovski’s arm up high.

Ghabar said added the tackle “wouldn’t have ended up as high without deflection”, and that because he was trying to wrap Dearden in the tackle, it had a “cradling-like contact”.

It took 20 minutes for the panel to come to its decision.