8 replies to this topic

[Baron Silas Greenback]

Quote

North Harbour second five-eighth Andrew Mailei and Bay of Plenty Luke Braid have both been handed two-week suspensions from the Air NZ Cup by the New Zealand Rugby Union judiciary.

Both players made mandatory appearances at hearings in Auckland tonight for dangerous tackles -- Mailei was sent off and Braid received a third yellow card of the season.

The judiciary ruled Mailei's spear-type tackle on Counties-Manukau opposite Dean Cummins in Albany on Friday was serious enough to warrant a two-week ban which will see him unavailable for games against Waikato and Bay of Plenty.

Mailei was today named in the North Harbour team to play Waikato in Hamilton on Thursday, meaning a selection reshuffle is now required.

NZRU judicial officer Chris Morris noted Braid's tackle on centre Brett Mather in the loss to Otago at Dunedin on Saturday was "almost identical" to Mailei's and handed down the same punishment.

Braid will miss games against Hawke's Bay and North Harbour.

The 2 tackles looked different to me, one was driven into the gorund and the other onwe wasnt. And how can the Tasman 9 get nothing and Braid gets 2 weeks?

[LAKiwi]

Maybe he didn't have 2 other yellow cards for the season?

[Baron Silas Greenback]

How is that factored in?

I dont mind a mandatory one week for 3 yellows, but is that what happened? Doesnt sound like it.

Was Braids spear tackle more dangerous because he had previously been done for profesional fouls? xzxnegative

[taniwharugby]

as I said after seeing the Mailei one, the Manawatu centre?? did a 'spear tackle' on the Northland 8 and got a YC, it was quite bad in that he was dropped straight on his head, no citing at all; Mailei's was worse (in that he appeared to drive im intot he ground) but he sat out 70 mins or so as well as 2 weeks

Braids was due to his 3rd YC I read on Teletext.

They need to get some consistancy in the rulings.

[Baron Silas Greenback]

Yeah and it doesnt help when the NZRU come out with dumb statement like they have in this case.
The 3 yellow cards should be totally seperate. You want to ban a guy for 3 yellows? Fine 1,2, 3 weeks no problem, make it the same for everyone.

But this example is stupid in that he appears to ahve been banned for somehting other players have got away with.

Lets assume that his last 2 yellows were in reverse order. So last week he had got binned incorectly for a nothing shoulder charge. Would he haver got 2 weeks? No chance.
And the week before he had done a stupid tackle.. but like the Tasman nine he wouldnt have got cited...

The system is farked.

[taniwharugby]

I agree.

Maybe they need to qualify thier statement?

1 week for a 3rd YC and 1 for the tackle? Even then, why consecutive as opposed to concurrent?

Even then, it is inconsistant to say the least.

I say it is a conspiracy!

[Stockcar86]

Is Latimer going to be back from holiday to play on Friday now that Braid is gone?

[BOPRED]

Stockcar86 said:

Is Latimer going to be back from holiday to play on Friday now that Braid is gone?

He was always going to be back this week.

Perhaps they review the suspension according to the reasons why.

They have set a bench mark mow so maybe we should wait for consistency then.

[hau22]

oh bulshite.. Mailei aldready missed 60 mins, thats punishment enough. and Braid?? theres heaps a tackles like his that get nothing. and his yellow the week before was for nothing! just a pussy cat ref.

please follow the NRL would ya rugby.. piss me off.