Bluebody
The Strategist
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http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/league-news/its-game-on-for-kasiano-20120718-22anu.html
LESS than 48 hours before the kick-off of arguably the biggest game of the season, Canterbury prop Sam Kasiano was last night found not guilty of a careless high tackle and will take his place against Manly tomorrow night.
The grade-two charge against Kasiano for making contact with the head of Eels prop Fuifui Moimoi was thrown out by the panel of former players Sean Garlick, Royce Ayliffe and Don McKinnon, who found the tackle was accidental. It's a ruling that will set a solid precedent for accidental tackles from now on.
Represented by Nick Ghabar, who argued on behalf of the Sharks a week earlier, Kasiano sat silent as Ghabar used 11 photos and seven videos to prove the prop had no alternative and made first contact with a falling Moimoi's arm. ''We're very happy with the decision tonight and now looking forward to Friday against Manly,'' chief executive Todd Greenberg said. ''There was a clarification around what an accidental tackle is and that is what happened tonight.''
Kasiano admitted his relief and said he couldn't wait for tomorrow's match where Des Hasler will return to Brookvale for the first time since sensationally parting ways with the premiers last season. NRL counsel Peter Kite argued that, while there was no suggestion of intent, the 21-year-old's tackle was careless in that he had been beaten by Moimoi and threw his arm out in a coathanger fashion when he realised this.
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He argued Kasiano misjudged his line speed and was forced to adjust when Moimoi stepped and from there he failed to show the ''necessary special duty'' of NRL players to avoid making contact with the head and that it was Kasiano's responsibility to have a target.
The Bulldogs counsel countered that, with just 0.4 of a second to react from when Moimoi began to slip, there was no evidence to suggest the prop could have done anything else.
''Perceive, react and adjust,'' Ghabar said. He argued that at no point was Kasiano beaten and that first contact after Moimoi had slipped some 50 centimetres in less than half a second was with the opposition player's forearm.
Hasler became agitated and Kasiano sat silent as Ghabar showed the prop's arm never left his side and was always facing down, and as such was aimed at or below the ball which meant the tackle was not careless or negligent. ''It was unfortunate contact but it was necessary,'' Ghabar argued. ''Kasiano was attempting to make the tackle, his arm was pointed diagonally towards the ground and first contact was with Moimoi's arm. You can tell that by the white taping on the arm.
''He fell some 50 centimetres in one step and less than half a second. There was no time to react and even so Kasiano still made first contact with his arm.''
Ghabar told the panel that if they were forced to make the same tackle, what option would they have but to do the same. He said a tackle couldn't be careless if there was not an option to use care.
Even chairman Paul Conlon seemed to come around, ordering the panel out of the room as he questioned the NRL's case for defence. He questioned if the tackle was marginal and what evidence proved that Kasiano was in fact beaten and threw an arm out in anger.
Kite had little to support the NRL's claims and Conlon called back the panel before Ayliffe delivered the not guilty verdict.
Kasiano had arrived without Hasler, who wasn't expected to attend due to the fact the prop was set to lose a week whether he was found guilty or took an early guilty plea.
But with a grudge match against the side that forced him out a year early from his contract and at Brookvale, Hasler and the Bulldogs decided to roll the dice.
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I had already made similar comments yesterday that lead me to believe he had to be let off. I was still relieved though. Can't believe the NRL defense were trying to say he was beaten and hence why he stuck his arm out with danger - what weak defence!
LESS than 48 hours before the kick-off of arguably the biggest game of the season, Canterbury prop Sam Kasiano was last night found not guilty of a careless high tackle and will take his place against Manly tomorrow night.
The grade-two charge against Kasiano for making contact with the head of Eels prop Fuifui Moimoi was thrown out by the panel of former players Sean Garlick, Royce Ayliffe and Don McKinnon, who found the tackle was accidental. It's a ruling that will set a solid precedent for accidental tackles from now on.
Represented by Nick Ghabar, who argued on behalf of the Sharks a week earlier, Kasiano sat silent as Ghabar used 11 photos and seven videos to prove the prop had no alternative and made first contact with a falling Moimoi's arm. ''We're very happy with the decision tonight and now looking forward to Friday against Manly,'' chief executive Todd Greenberg said. ''There was a clarification around what an accidental tackle is and that is what happened tonight.''
Kasiano admitted his relief and said he couldn't wait for tomorrow's match where Des Hasler will return to Brookvale for the first time since sensationally parting ways with the premiers last season. NRL counsel Peter Kite argued that, while there was no suggestion of intent, the 21-year-old's tackle was careless in that he had been beaten by Moimoi and threw his arm out in a coathanger fashion when he realised this.
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He argued Kasiano misjudged his line speed and was forced to adjust when Moimoi stepped and from there he failed to show the ''necessary special duty'' of NRL players to avoid making contact with the head and that it was Kasiano's responsibility to have a target.
The Bulldogs counsel countered that, with just 0.4 of a second to react from when Moimoi began to slip, there was no evidence to suggest the prop could have done anything else.
''Perceive, react and adjust,'' Ghabar said. He argued that at no point was Kasiano beaten and that first contact after Moimoi had slipped some 50 centimetres in less than half a second was with the opposition player's forearm.
Hasler became agitated and Kasiano sat silent as Ghabar showed the prop's arm never left his side and was always facing down, and as such was aimed at or below the ball which meant the tackle was not careless or negligent. ''It was unfortunate contact but it was necessary,'' Ghabar argued. ''Kasiano was attempting to make the tackle, his arm was pointed diagonally towards the ground and first contact was with Moimoi's arm. You can tell that by the white taping on the arm.
''He fell some 50 centimetres in one step and less than half a second. There was no time to react and even so Kasiano still made first contact with his arm.''
Ghabar told the panel that if they were forced to make the same tackle, what option would they have but to do the same. He said a tackle couldn't be careless if there was not an option to use care.
Even chairman Paul Conlon seemed to come around, ordering the panel out of the room as he questioned the NRL's case for defence. He questioned if the tackle was marginal and what evidence proved that Kasiano was in fact beaten and threw an arm out in anger.
Kite had little to support the NRL's claims and Conlon called back the panel before Ayliffe delivered the not guilty verdict.
Kasiano had arrived without Hasler, who wasn't expected to attend due to the fact the prop was set to lose a week whether he was found guilty or took an early guilty plea.
But with a grudge match against the side that forced him out a year early from his contract and at Brookvale, Hasler and the Bulldogs decided to roll the dice.
--
I had already made similar comments yesterday that lead me to believe he had to be let off. I was still relieved though. Can't believe the NRL defense were trying to say he was beaten and hence why he stuck his arm out with danger - what weak defence!
