Harrison Hansen Not Guilty.

Below is the Report by the Rugby League Disciplinary Panel regarding the charges levelled against Harrison Hansen that he exerted undue pressure on an opponents neck.It shows the detail Wigan put into studying opponents play before matches.




The Panel reviewed an incident that occurred in approximately the 25th minute of the above Match. The Panel considered whether in tackling an opponent (Lynch) you had made dangerous contact with your opponent. The Panel believed that as a defending player, in effecting a tackle, you used your body forcefully to apply unnecessary pressure to the head and/or neck of the tackled player so as to keep the tackled player at a disadvantage in the tackle. In the Panel’s opinion you made legitimate initial contact with your opponent and your opponent was turned in the tackle to face his own goal line. However you then used your body weight to force your Opponent’s head and neck towards his chest and shoulders, putting pressure on the neck of your Opponent. As a defender you have a special duty to avoid such contact. The Panel believed your actions were unnecessary and could have resulted in an injury to your opponent. In accordance with the RFL’s On Field Sentencing Guidelines, the Panel consider that such offence is a Grade B offence (Dangerous contact - Defending player, in or after effecting a tackle, uses any part of his body forcefully to bend or apply unnecessary pressure to the head and/or neck and/or spinal column of the tackled player so as to keep the tackled player at a disadvantage in or after the tackle). If found to have committed the offence, again in accordance with the On Field Sentencing Guidelines, the normal suspension range for such offence is from a 1 match suspension to a 2 match suspension. In addition the Tribunal has the power to impose such fine as it considers reasonable. I will not be requesting that Disciplinary Tribunal step outside of the Sentencing Guidelines. However the Tribunal may, in the light of any aggravating and mitigating factors they consider appropriate, impose a higher penalty.



Summary of Player's submissions on the Charge / evidence

The player explained about the techniques that they are coached and that they have individual reviews of opponents. They were briefed he is the third best offloader in the game and gets really quick play the balls. Intention was to slow the play the ball down and prevent the off load. Lynch turned to look for the off load rather than being turned by the player's actions. Harrison is coached to get his hips under the opponents and that is what he did on this occasion. Other players' (Leuluai sweeping the leg and J Tomkins coming over from the side) actions contributed to the tackle and when Hansen realised that Lynch's head was in a potentially dangerous position he changed position to ensure his safety. Hansen's left arm was trying to control the ball and was not putting pressure on the head and there was no movement from the legs to deliver an impact to the neck. The priority was to prevent the offload. Michael Maguire, representing the player, stated that in 2009 and 2010 Lynch was the highest off loader in the game. In 2011 he currently has the third highest number of off loads. To ensure he can off load effectively Lynch spins upon impact. Mr Maguire reiterated that Hansen's priority was to prevent the offload. Mr Maguire encourages his players to ensure the safety of opponents and in this instance Harrison ensured that Lynch landed safely. The players are instructed to slow the play the ball and to ideally get opponents on their backs with their head safely on the floor. Shaun Wane also added that there was no "undue pressure" and the player can be seen to lift his backside which releases pressure and allows the player to move to the floor safely.



Decision

Not Guilty.



Reasons for Decision

The Panel have reviewed the incident very carefully and have listened to the submissions made and are satisfied that this was not a deliberate crusher tackle. A crucial element was the sweeping of the leg by Leuluai which moved all players down into a more dangerous position. The Panel accept that the player did everything he could to ensure the safety of his opponent once he recognised he was in a potentially dangerous position.