Dragons star Jack de Belin says he is “bitterly disappointed” after failing to have his dangerous contact charge downgraded at the judiciary on Tuesday night.
De Belin was hoping to have the charge downgraded from a grade two to grade one for his hip-drop tackle which left Manly’s Christian Tuipulotu with a sprained knee.
He will next be available for the Dragons in round 27 when they take on the Knights.
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“I think we showed that it probably should have been a grade one (charge), but I respect the judiciary’s decision. That’s life and you’ve got to play the cards you’ve been dealt,” he said.
“If you watch it, I don’t actively or consciously do a hip-drop. It’s kind of one motion and unfortunately I ended up around his boot.
“There were mitigating factors, but as football players I know we have a responsibility and a duty of care. I don’t necessarily agree that there was a high level of force.”
De Belin was represented by Nick Ghabar, who told the judiciary that the impact on Tuipulotu was made worse by the presence of his teammate Francis Molo in the tackle.
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”This is not in the nature of what is commonly known as a hip drop, this is all one fluid motion,” Ghabar said.
“I would suggest it was momentary contact and in terms of force I would say it was low level. It was somewhat clumsy and a marginal level of carelessness. Player de Belin lost his legs and was pushed by player Molo.”
Ghabar also argued that Tuipulotu’s heavily-strapped right leg may have contributed to the injury to his left knee as a result of de Belin’s tackle.
Manly doctor Paul Bloomfield submitted a medical report which stated Tuipulotu would miss at least two weeks due to the injury sustained in he tackle.
”Is it an entry level of force or something stronger?” the NRL’s legal counsel Lachlan Gyles said.
“What you have seen really sets out that it is a moderate level of force, the injury to the other player is consistent with a moderate level of force.
“The player was injured, forced from the field and is likely to be out for two weeks. That is really what we are trying to avoid.
“It’s not about Mr de Belin’s character, it’s not about whether he set out to do it deliberately, it’s about the level of force.”
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