NRL 2024: Dragons to argue Kyle Flanagan was accosted by Stephen Crichton before biting allegations
Canterbury captain Stephen Crichton won’t give evidence in person at the NRL judiciary to give evidence against Kyle Flanagan. It comes as the Dragons appoint a high-profile barrister to defend their halfback over the bite allegations.
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Canterbury skipper Stephen Crichton won’t give evidence against St George Illawarra five-eighth Kyle Flanagan at Tuesday night’s judiciary biting hearing.
It comes as the Dragons drafted in legal gun James McLeod to defend Flanagan against allegations he bit Crichton on the nose during Saturday night’s blockbuster between the fierce rivals.
Flanagan is pleading not guilty to a dangerous contact charge and will front the NRL judiciary on Tuesday night in a bid to clear his name.
But a Canterbury official told this masthead that Crichton would not be compelled to be at the hearing and was unlikely to volunteer his presence either.
The NRL will give Crichton the option to give evidence on Tuesday night via a written statement rather than in person. But the 23-year-old is yet to make a call on whether to take up that option.
The Bulldogs travel to Bundaberg mid-week for Saturday’s clash against the Dolphins, with Crichton and Canterbury coaching staff preferring the star centre to prioritise his football commitments.
It’s understood the incident was discussed with the ground manager and other NRL officials after the game but neither Crichton or Canterbury lodged an official complaint.
Crichton also did not make an official on-field complaint to referee Gerard Sutton at the time despite being agitated after the tackle with Flanagan.
But it’s believed Crichton did bring the incident to the attention of officials but did not take it any further at the time.
While Crichton won’t be at the judiciary, the NRL will tender a series of photographs of his bloodied nose, which were taken after full-time.
The NRL had asked Canterbury staff to take the photos of Crichton’s face when the ground manager was made aware of the incident.
Leniu lawyer to defend Flanagan
-Michael Carayannis
The man at the centre of the most controversial judiciary case of the season has been drafted in to assist St George Illawarra’s Kyle Flanagan ahead of his crucial hearing on Tuesday night.
St George Illawarra have reached out to James McLeod who represented Spencer Leniu during the high profile racism case earlier this year.
McLeod last represented St George Illawarra in 2019 when he successfully argued for a downgrade of Tariq Sims’s dangerous contact charge but that was not enough for Sims to be cleared to play Origin III.
Flanagan’s season hangs in the balance after allegations he bit the nose of Canterbury skipper Stephen Crichton.
McLeod has been the lawyer of choice for the Roosters at the judiciary in recent years.
Dragons to point finger at Crichton as aggressor
-Dean Ritchie
St George Illawarra will argue Kyle Flanagan was accosted on the ground by Canterbury centre Stephen Crichton seconds before a biting allegation erupted on Saturday night.
Flanagan will plead not guilty after being referred directly to the NRL judiciary for allegedly biting Crichton’s nose during the Bulldogs’ 28-10 win over the Dragons at Kogarah.
Crichton didn’t make an on-field complaint but later told match officials he was bitten when in a tackle with Flanagan.
Fox League vision showed Crichton on top of Flanagan and forcing his face into the face of the Saints’ five-eighth, and after the game the Bulldogs’ captain was bloodied with lacerations on his nose.
The Dragons will argue at the hearing that Crichton was the aggressor in the tackle with Flanagan, who the NRL match review committee charged with dangerous contact.
Crichton wasn’t sanctioned.
St George Illawarra’s evidence are also set to ask why Crichton didn’t lodge a formal complaint on the field.
“The tackle was completed and then Crichton jammed his face into Flanagan’s face,” a source close to St George Illawarra said.
“Kyle was (accosted) on the ground. He was held down on the ground before Crichton jammed his face into Kyle’s face.
“That’s what St George Illawarra will be talking about (at the judiciary hearing). Crichton didn’t say anything at the tackle.
“If he got bitten in the tackle wouldn’t he know? Crichton pushed his face as hard as he could into Kyle’s face on the ground.”
Flanagan, who was wearing a mouth guard, will appear at the judiciary hearing at 6pm on Tuesday. He has insisted he didn’t bite Crichton.
Greg Alexander, who called the game for Fox League, said: “Stephen Crichton mustn’t have said anything during play.
“It’s a strange one because Stephen Crichton is on top with his face in the face of Kyle Flanagan. The nose (of Crichton) just happens to find its way into the mouth of Flanagan, who then just latches onto his nose.
“But, in essence, it’s a bite – I don’t think you can escape that.
“As Crichton tries to withdraw, you can see the nose shake so there’s obviously a bit of pressure around the nose.
“I’ve seen it a couple of times but haven’t gone over it forensically and watched it time and time again to be 100 per cent sure.
“But I do agree with some of the comments regarding Stephen Crichton having his face in (Flanagan’s) face. He is on top of Kyle Flanagan.
“I’d have to watch the tackle at normal speed and then slow it down again.
Crichton’s close mate and former Penrith teammate Brian To’o made light of the incident post-match on social media.
“Spare nose for my uso,” To’o posted on Instagram. “If you wanted a kiss the uso could have just asked him.”
Crichton also reposted an Instagram story that joked Flanagan was “hungry” and that “everyone wants a taste of the skipper”.
Former Canberra five-eighth Jack Wighton was hit with a three-week ban for biting Newcastle’s Tyson Gamble on the arm during last year’s finals series.
Gamble refused to provide evidence at the judiciary hearing despite making an on-field complaint.
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Originally published as NRL 2024: Dragons to argue Kyle Flanagan was accosted by Stephen Crichton before biting allegations
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