Players concerned about NRL’s ‘unfettered power’ to lay charges

The NRL has been slammed for exercising “unprecedented overreach of extra judicial power” after giving itself “unfettered power” to charge players for off-field offences.

The Australian Rugby League Commission can now bypass the match review committee and cite players, a change head office claims will help safeguard the game.

However, the Rugby League Players Association has aired its concerns.

“The ARLC’s decision to give itself unfettered power to charge players for on-field matters is an unprecedented overreach of extra judicial power,” said RLPA CEO Clint Newton.

“The powers now vested in the ARLC are entirely unnecessary. While the ARLC make decisions that relate to protecting the health and safety of the players, these new powers go far beyond their responsibilities or day-to-day expertise.

Adam Doueihi is sent to the sin bin.Credit: Getty Images

“The existing Match Review Committee (MRC) and its processes give players, clubs and fans confidence that the decisions to charge players are made within a truly independent framework. No judicial system is perfect, and there will always be debate regarding verdicts, but the independent MRC comprises appropriate members with the right combination of expertise and experience.

“We believe the MRC and its independent framework is best placed to review matches and assess whether any conduct by a player may constitute an offence, and if so, at what grading. The ARLC is not a form of independent judicial oversight.”

The NRL inisists the powers will be seldom used, if ever. However, leading Sydney-based lawyers Lee Hagipantelis, Nick Ghabar and Paul McGirr have been publicly critical of the move.

The NRL claim any intervention could also favour of players if they believe a player should not have been charged. The RLPA will raise the matter at its June board meeting.

“To overrule the MRC with discretionary powers undermines the players trust in the existing system of providing fair, equitable and consistent decisions that impact them financially and professionally,” Newton said.

“Any exercise of the proposed power would have the effect of diluting the appearance of independence and function of the MRC.”

Dodd on the outer as Koloamatangi makes surprise return

Robert Dillon

The future of English import Lewis Dodd at South Sydney is looking increasingly tenuous after coach Wayne Bennett revealed he has been omitted from the squad to face Melbourne at Accor Stadium on Saturday.

Dodd arrived at the Rabbitohs as a high-profile signing from Super League heavyweights St Helens, having agreed to a three-year deal reportedly worth $650,000 per season.

But he has played only three NRL games this season, two off the bench and one as five-eighth, after being hindered by suspension and injury, as well as the emergence of Jamie Humphreys and Jayden Sullivan as playmaking options.

With Sullivan (calf), veteran Cody Walker (groin) and livewire Jye Gray (broken thumb) all unavailable this week, Bennett named Dodd in the No.6 jersey when his team was announced on Tuesday.

The coach said on Friday former Test and NSW Origin star Jack Wighton would start at five-eighth alongside Humphreys, with Euan Aitken expected to move from back row to replace Wighton at centre.

“Lewis is not in the 17 for us,” Bennett said.

Asked what was thinking behind the Wighton switch, Bennett replied: “Because I think he can do a good job for us.”

However in better news for the Rabbitohs, Bennett confirmed NSW squad member Keaon Koloamatangi would play against Melbourne, despite being replaced during last week’s loss to Canterbury with what was reported to be a fractured eye socket.

“He didn’t need any surgery and the doctor is quite confident it won’t be a problem to him,” Bennett said.

“And he’s confident and happy with it, so we’ll go ahead and let him play.”

Another strong showing from Koloamatangi could help him clinch a NSW recall for the blockbuster State of Origin series decider in Sydney on July 9.

Lewis Dodd has been omitted from the South Sydney squad to face Melbourne.

NSW star Latrell Mitchell watched Souths’ final training session on Friday from the sidelines, 48 hours after the Blues’ 26-24 loss to Queensland in Origin II.

Bennett said Mitchell would take his place against Melbourne as fullback and skipper.

“He’ll be playing, he’ll be captain of the team, he’s all good,” Bennett said.

“It’s really important for us, with other players missing … I think he’s keen to play. That’s what you feel after you do lose [in Origin]. You want to get out and play.”

Radley to see specialist after seventh career concussion

Roosters enforcer Victor Radley will see an independent specialist this week after suffering the seventh concussion of his career against the Knights on Saturday.

Radley was rattled while attempting to make a tackle in the 36th minute of Saturday’s match against Newcastle and was taken from the field for a head injury assessment, which he failed.

The 27-year-old has now suffered seven concussions in the past four seasons, his last one coming in the Roosters’ season-opener against the Broncos in March. Radley has been taken from the field for head injury assessments five times this season, two of which he has failed.

Radley will now be subject to the NRL’s 11-day concussion protocols, which means he will miss the Roosters’ clash with the Cowboy on Sunday. The Tricolours have the bye the following week, which means it will be close the three weeks before Radley is available to play his next match.

Teammate Billy Smith said he had spoken to Radley on Tuesday morning and said he was doing “as well as he can”.

“I was with him this morning, just going about the protocol,” Smith said. “We’ll miss him on Sunday, but I suppose it would give him some time to rest – then we’ve got the bye, so he’s got a bit of a layover there.”

Victor Radley is taken from the field for a head injury assessment in round 13 against the Raiders.Credit: Getty Images

Blake Steep, who is in line replace Radley at lock this weekend, said head knocks were an unavoidable part of the game.

“It’s obviously not ideal,” Steep said. “But it is a contact sport, so you can’t [avoid them]. It’s hard to prevent. The medical team, they’ll look after him and get [him] to his do his protocols and everything, and get him back on the field.”

Cody Walker and Alex Johnston set to sign extensions with South Sydney

South Sydney are set to extend the careers of two of their favourite sons and are now finalising one-year extensions for Cody Walker and Alex Johnston.

South Sydney officials confirmed the Rabbitohs have been in discussions with the pair’s respective management companies for months and are now closing in on fresh deals to ensure they both finish their careers in the cardinal and myrtle.

Cody Walker and Alex Johnston are about to sign one year extensions.Credit: Getty

The Rabbitohs had been in discussions with Walker about a potential two-year deal but the club has instead chosen to give Walker one extra season with concerns around some niggling injuries he has suffered in recent seasons.

Johnston tested the market, which included his manager offering him up to rivals the Sydney Roosters, but decided he did not want to play for another club. The extra season will give him a huge opportunity to pass Ken Irvine’s all-time try-scoring record at the South Sydney Rabbitohs of 212. Johnston is currently second on the list with 202.

Why Reynolds rejected Wests Tigers, and an extra $1 million

Adam Reynolds said the appeal of being coached by Benji Marshall – and playing alongside Jarome Luai – seriously tempted him to join the Wests Tigers, but ultimately could not bring himself to leave his young family in Brisbane, even if it meant sacrificing close to $1m.

Reynolds is expected to ink a one-year extension with the Brisbane Broncos in the coming weeks, then later move into a coaching role at Red Hill, but only after the Tigers went to great lengths to try and convince him to return home to Sydney on a two-year deal worth around $750,000 a season.

Tempted: Adam Reynolds on how close he came to joining Wests TigersCredit: Getty Images

Tigers CEO Shane Richardson made a hit-and-run visit to the Queensland capital last week to sell Reynolds’ the Tigers’ dream, while Marshall also spoke to the veteran half on how he thought he and Luai would work together.

The Tigers picked up the phone to Reynolds the moment Lachie Galvin made it known he was headed for the early exit, and while it was always going to take something big to prise the halfback, who turns 35 next month out of the Queensland capital, Richardson knew he had to at least try.

Reynolds spent six years playing in the Balmain competition as a junior, including five seasons with Leichhardt Juniors. He also played with Marshall at Souths and remains friends with Richardson after their time together at the Bunnies.

“Yes, I was seriously tempted,” Reynolds said. “Benji is a great coach, I’ve always had a lot of time for him – I idolised him as a player when I was growing up – but at the end of the day, family is the most important thing, and if I did leave for Sydney, it would have been without the family, and that was going to be too hard.

“The Tigers have a great spine, and I spoke to Benji about how me and Jarome could have worked. He’s an instinctive player who brings a lot of energy and plays off the cuff, while I’m that organising half.

“The biggest thing for me was I believed I could have added a lot to that team – that I could have added a lot of value to the Tigers.

“But with a wife and four young kids, and being away from them for the best part of two years, I just couldn’t do it to them. No amount of money could have changed my mind. I read reports I was giving up $1m by wanting to stay with Brisbane, and it probably wasn’t far off.

Benji Marshall and Adam Reynolds formed a bond during their time at South SydneyCredit: Getty Images

“But I love Brisbane, I’ve been on this journey with the boys here the past four years, and we’ve got some unfinished business.”

Reynolds is keen to move into coaching once he retires, and that is a genuine option should he stay at Red Hill.

Young helped beat the Knights on Saturday. Now they’re his new team

Robert Dillon

England international Dominic Young is confident he will be a better fit on the end of Newcastle’s backline than he was during his season-and-a-half at the Sydney Roosters.

Barely 48 hours after he helped the Roosters to a 12-8 win in Newcastle, Young’s return to the Knights is expected to be confirmed on Monday, and he is set to be rushed into their team to face the Dolphins in Perth on Saturday.

The towering winger initially joined the Roosters last year on a four-season deal, after a three-year stint at Newcastle that delivered 43 tries in 51 NRL games, including a club-record 25 in the 2023 season.

Despite crossing the stripe 26 times in 31 games for the Roosters, he found himself superseded by the emergence of Mark Nawaqanitawase and Robert Toia as a right-edge strike force.

When he was dropped to NSW Cup two months ago, the Knights were quick to offer him a lifeline.

After a stand-off over how much each club would contribute towards the balance of his salary for this year, he is returning to Newcastle until at least the end of 2027.

The 23-year-old had mixed emotions about the move but was no doubt that it is in his best interests.

“I think the thing for me is I need to be playing every week,” Young said. “That’s what I prioritise, and I guess a couple of other things as well.

It’s last drinks for Dominic Young at the Roosters. He is set to be confirmed as a Newcastle player on Monday.Credit: Getty Images

“But yeah, it’ll be a big year for me this year. I’ve got a lot of goals I want to achieve.

“The main way for me to do that is to be on the field. If I get the opportunity to do that in Newcastle, that suits me a bit more.

“I think with the playing style and the players I’ve played with in Newcastle, maybe that suits me a little bit more as well. So, yeah, just looking forward to that. I did really enjoy my time here.”

Young was worshipped by Newcastle fans for his prolific 2023 campaign, which culminated in him scoring a double against Canberra in a home play-off, as a sold-out crowd of 29,548 went ballistic.

“That roar [after his tries], it was pretty cool,” Young recalled. “But, yeah, I’ve always appreciated the love and the support from the fans since I got here.

“It’s always been something that’s stuck with me. Even during my time at the Roosters, I still hear from a lot of Knights fans. So it’s always been a special place.

“It’s always kind of the first place, my first NRL team there. And I know it’s always going to hold that place in my heart.”

Dominic Young was a prolific tryscorer for the Knights.Credit: Getty Images

Young admitted it was “a weird one” preparing to play against the Knights, knowing that within days they would again be his teammates.

“It was important for me to kind of finish on a high and get the win,” he said. “Yeah, I definitely wanted the two points.”

Young might not have signed off with a trademark try, but his Roosters swansong was a solid performance, making 164 attacking metres from 15 carries, though Newcastle did score their try down his edge.

“Every time I put the Roosters jersey on, I’m going to give it my all,” he said.

“That’s what I’ve done ever since I’ve joined here. So, yeah, it was important for me to put my best foot forward, regardless of everything going on outside. And I thought I did that and got the win.”

While Young’s release has not been publicly confirmed, Roosters coach Trent Robinson said: “It’s pretty clear he’s going to be up here [in Newcastle] on Monday”.

Knights coach Adam O’Brien said Young would “absolutely” be welcomed back, by both his former teammates and supporters.

“We didn’t want him to leave in the first place,” O’Brien said. “Maybe next week you’re talking about maybe selecting him. He’s available for selection.”

Veteran centre Dane Gagai is expected to renew his previously lethal partnership with Young.

“If he comes here, like ‘Adsy’ [O’Brien] said, we’ll welcome him with open arms,” Gagai said. “But we just need to get back to winning footy games, whether it’s pretty or not.”

Young’s return will certainly add some much-needed firepower to Newcastle’s attack, which has delivered only 34 tries in 14 games this season – the fewest in the NRL.

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