Cherrington banned for four matches over lifting tackle

Eels co-captain Kennedy Cherrington has been suspended for four matches after pleading guilty to a Grade Three Dangerous Throw on Knights forward Laishon Albert-Jones.

Cherrington was referred directly to the NRLW Judiciary after being sent off in Sunday's loss to Newcastle.

The NSW Origin forward and 2022 Veronica White Medallist pleaded guilty and tendered character references, including one by former Kangaroos and Maroons great Greg Inglis.

An emotional Cherrington declined to comment after the hearing but Eels GM of football Mark O'Neill said she was apologetic about the tackle on Albert-Jones and accepted the ban imposed by the judiciary.  

"Kennedy is disappointed in the tackle itself and wants to make it known that she's apologetic to player Jones," O'Neill said.

"We received a fair hearing here tonight and we will support Kennedy through it and she can look forward to when she returns in four-weeks time."

NRL judiciary chair, Justice Geoffrey Bellew SC, released the following summary of reasons for the decision of the judiciary panel, which comprised of former player Tarsha Gale and ex-referee Sean Hampstead.

The panel considered that there was a considerable degree of culpability in the tackle on the part of player Cherrington, and took the view that there was a significant risk of catastrophic injury brought about by her lifting motion, for which she was solely responsible, and which took the ball carrier over the horizontal position.

The panel also had regard to the fact that in that position in which she was placed, the ball carrier was particularly vulnerable to such risk, in circumstances where she had no real ability to protect herself.

The panel took into account what it considered to be the player’s powerful subjective case.

In particular, the panel had regard to her immediate apology, her plea of guilty, the fact that she was sent from the field and has thus already been penalised to some degree, and the character references tendered on her behalf.

However, the panel was equally mindful that a powerful subjective case must not be permitted to result in the imposition of a penalty which is not consistent with the objective seriousness of the offence.

The panel was also particularly mindful of the fact that any penalty was
required to carry with it a significant element of general deterrence."

Live blog - judiciary recap

7:10pm: Kennedy Cherrington has been suspended for four-matches by the NRLW judiciary after pleading GUILTY to a Grade Three Dangerous throw on Knights forward Laishon Albert-Jones.

6:50pm: The panel has begun deliberation with a verdict to come shortly.

6:45pm: Ghabar has asked for a penalty of two to three matches, saying: “This is not a case of intentional or reckless contact.”

Gyles rejected that Jones had any involvement in the tackle going wrong, but he accepted the lack of drive or weight by Cherrington.

“In terms of risk of injury this is the worst tackle we have seen in the NRLW and there needs to be a strong and unambiguous signal to players not to do this," Gyles said. 

“The nature of the risk of catastrophic injury means two to three matches won’t cut it.”

6:40pm: Ghabar said the 26 minutes that Cherrington missed after being sent off should be take into account.

The referee says in her report when asked if the charged player made any comment that Cherrington immediately apologized for the tackle.

“She is the captain of her team, she has played at representative level, she is the current Veronica White Medallist. This tackle is out of character for this player," Ghabar said.

6:35pm: Ghabar said the involvement of Eels teammate Madeline Jones had been a contributing factor in Albert-Jones' landing. 

“She doesn’t contribute to the lift but she contributes to the landing,” Ghabar said.

“Parramatta player Jones gets under the arm of the Newcastle player Albert-Jones who was unable to roll onto her back and land in a better position than she did.

“There was no drive by player Cherrington. The first thing my client does when she realizes the position she has put the player on is let go, remove her arms and drop to her knees so she is not putting additional weight or pressure on player Jones head or neck.

“There is no suggestion of injury in this tackle. There was an obvious risk of injury but it was something moderating to the risk that player Cherrington removed her arms and dropped to her knees."

6:29pm: Gyles told the panel that they should take into account the high risk of a serious injury when imposing a penalty. He asked for a four-match ban.

“That is why there needs to be a lengthy suspension,” he said.

“This is becoming a notorious tackle, it has been widely viewed. It is important that the tribunal sends a clear message to other players and anything less than a hefty penalty won’t be a sufficient deterrent."

“The panel should also take into account the image of the game.

“We accept that the player has pleaded guilty, she deserves credit for that, she apologized immediately after the incident and she is of good character.

“We would expect nothing less than four weeks”.

6:21pm: The panel watched a variety of camera angles of the tackle by Cherrington on Albert-Jones.

“What we are really here about is protection of players," Giles said.

“It’s important that Kennedy has a duty of care to the players she is on the field with.

“By the guilty plea the player has accepted that there is a degree of elevation. By placing her hand between the legs of the player, there is a risk of lifting the player above the horizontal.

“We are all really luck this didn’t result in not only an injury but a catastrophic injury because there is a high level of vulnerability.”

6:14pm: While Cherrington has pleaded guilty to a Grade 3 Dangerous Throw, the judiciary panel will determine the penalty to be imposed. Gyles said he accepted that the NSW Origin and Maori All Stars representative did not deliberately put Albert-Jones in a dangerous position.

6:08pm: The hearing has begun with Gyles telling the panel that Cherrington had two previous judiciary charges in 2022 for Grade One Dangerous Contact offences.

6:03pm: Cherrington has arrived at Rugby League Central accompanied by family members, including her mother, and Eels officials. She is being represented by Sydney lawyer Nick Ghabar.

The case will be heard by judiciary Justice Geoffrey Bellew, SC, and panel members former player Tarsha Gale and ex-referee Sean Hampstead. NRL legal counsel Lachlan Gyles, SC, will prosecute the case against Cherrington.

NRLW Judiciary Results - Round 3

Meanwhile, Knights forward Caitlan Johnston has been banned for her side's Round 4 match against the Titans after pleading guilty to a Grade 2 Careless High tackle on debutant Kelsey Clark in Sunday's win over the Eels.

In the Sharks-Titans match, forward Vanessa Foliaki pleaded guilty to a hip drop tackle on veteran Stephanie Hancock during her side's loss on Saturday and received a warning.