The NRL has reaffirmed its commitment to its approach towards suspensions in State of Origin matches, despite criticism from clubs affected by the current rules.The NRL has reaffirmed its commitment to its approach towards suspensions in State of Origin matches, despite criticism from clubs affected by the current rules. NRL CEO Andrew Abdo maintains that it is appropriate for players to serve suspensions in club football for their actions during Origin matches. This stance has drawn criticism from Manly and South Sydney, who have lost players Haumole Olakau’atu and Cameron Murray to suspensions due to their involvement in a sideline brawl during Wednesday’s match. Abdo emphasizes that the NRL revised the legal process for representative matches in 2022, limiting suspensions to only third-degree offenses. Since then, only three players, including Murray and Olakau’atu, have faced match suspensions in Origin matches. The NRL believes this system ensures that only serious offenses result in suspensions and argues that the brawl during Origin III warranted the disciplinary action taken. However, clubs have expressed dissatisfaction with the current rules, arguing that suspensions should only be imposed in representative matches themselves. The NRL acknowledges the challenges in implementing a football-like system where suspensions are limited to international matches due to the limited number of representative matches in rugby league. The NRL also stands by the charges imposed after Origin III, including fines for eight players involved in the brawl. The match review committee categorized the players’ involvement into three levels based on their actions. Annesley confirmed that he will review the referee’s audio to determine if Ashley Klein initially recommended Murray’s dismissal for running onto the field. However, he emphasized that there is no mandatory rule for such a dismissal and that the decision was made based on the specific circumstances of the incident.
The NRL remains committed to its approach to the State of Origin fight night, with CEO Andrew Abdo adamant that it is right for players to serve their suspensions in club football.
Abdo in particular has come under fire in recent days, with Manly and South Sydney furious over the loss of Haumole Olakau’atu and Cameron Murray respectively.
Both forwards will miss two club games for their involvement in Wednesday’s sideline brawl after running off the NSW bench to join the brawl.
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South Sydney boss Blake Solly has since called the NRL’s rules “ridiculous”, while he has been backed by his Manly counterpart Tony Mestrov, who called for representative suspensions to only be imposed in representative matches.
But it seems unlikely that the NRL will budge.
The NRL revised the legal process for representative matches in 2022, meaning that only players accused of third-degree offences can be suspended.
Cameron Murray in the thick of things during the State of Origin battle. Credit: MONKEY
Since then, only Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii, Murray and Olakau’atu have been suspended from Origin matches.
“Two years ago we worked with the clubs to come up with that new system for representative matches,” Abdo told AAP.
“The focus was mainly on ensuring that match suspensions would only be reserved for very serious cases.
“Of the last 29 charges for representative matches, only three have resulted in match suspensions. That would indicate that the system is working.”
The changes the NRL made in 2022 prevented Jeremiah Nanai, Brian To’o, Reuben Cotter and Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow from being suspended after they were handed grade two charges following the fight.
Olakau’atu’s suspension was also reduced from four to two matches, as previous offences in club football will no longer count towards suspensions for Origin matches.
“When you see what happened, it is very difficult to say that it was not very serious,” Abdo said.
“We cannot allow players not to be on the field but to be involved in the actions of evil.
“So I’m very happy with what happened.”
Haumole Olakau’atu was ejected from the game for his part in the brawl. Credit: @MichaelChammas
One of the complications in implementing a football-like system where only international matches are excluded is the limited number of representative matches played in rugby league.
Another challenge would be how Suaalii’s four-match ban from Origin I would be served given he swaps rugby league for Union at the end of the year.
The NRL also continues to agree with Origin III’s charges, including a $26,100 fine paid by eight players.
While 19th man Olakau’atu and substitute Murray both ran from the Blues bench, Payne Haas, Matt Burton and Felise Kaufusi were also fined for getting involved in a fight while off the field at the time of the match.
“I understand the match review committee divided it into three categories, with a lot going on and a lot of people involved,” said head of football Graham Annesley.
“Those who were there, involved and participated. And those who rushed in but didn’t necessarily try to escalate it. They tried to suppress it.
“And then there was the third category, which consisted of players who had no right to be there.”
Annesley will review the referee’s audio of the match on Monday and determine whether Ashley Klein initially suggested Murray be sent off for running in.
However, the NRL football manager said there was no mandatory rule to expel or dismiss Murray from the competition. He indicated that he agreed with the decision to expel Murray from the competition.
“These are very unusual circumstances where a fight broke out somewhere around the bank,” Annesley said.
“I don’t think you can have a hard and fast rule on any of these things. I think it has to be judged on its merits.”
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