‘They weren’t docked an interchange’: NRL to investigate Dragons over team list stuff up

St George Illawarra wasn’t docked an interchange on Sunday after a teamsheet mistake but are being investigated by the NRL after the incident.

Moses Mbye started for the Dragons against Canberra (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)

St George Illawarra’s tough start to the year could get worse with the NRL now investigating the circumstances which led to the Dragons running out with a different team to the one that was named an hour before their game against Canberra kicked off.

The controversy revolved around Moses Mbye who was originally listed to come off the bench but started the game in place of Jacob Liddle who came on after 23 minutes.

It was incorrectly reported at the time that the bungle had cost the Dragons one of their eight interchanges, but NRL head of football Graham Annesley cleared the confusion, with stats from Sunday’s game in Canberra showing they did make all eight substitutions.

Jacob Liddle was supposed to start the game but came off the bench instead. Picture; Supplied

“There’s a bit of misunderstanding about this,” Annesley said at his weekly media briefing on Monday.

“They weren’t docked an interchange. They still go their normal number of interchanges.

“The issue is around the team list. The NRL rules require teams to nominate their final starting lineup an hour before kick-off, and that indicates the starting 13 and the players on the bench.

“The teams are then required to take the field with the starting 13 that were nominated on the team list.

“That didn’t happen for one reason or another yesterday. I know there have been some stories circulating that that cost them an interchange, but it didn’t cost them an interchange. They still go their full eight interchanges.”

While the mistake didn’t cost them an interchange on Sunday, the move could hurt their hip pocket if the NRL decides to fine the club.

NRL chief executive Andrew Abdo will look into the matter, with the Dragons facing a potential breach notice which could result in a simple warning or some form of penalty.

Annesley says the NRL is now investigating the matter, with the Dragons facing a potential fine. Picture; The Advertiser/ Morgan Sette

“It then becomes a breach of our rules, which is dealt with separately post game,” Annesley continued.

“Andrew Abdo will have a look at the circumstances around that and we’ll get some more details on how that happened, and then a decision will be taken in the normal course of events about the reasons why the rules were breached.

“A determination will then be made whether they’re issued a breach notice and an associated penalty that goes with that.”

The interchange didn’t influence the result, with the Raiders holding on for a 20-14 win.

Originally published as ‘They weren’t docked an interchange’: NRL to investigate Dragons over team list stuff up