Manly defends NRL over Curtis Scott suspension for breaking Dylan Walker's eye socket

Updated

Manly has come to the unlikely defence of the NRL following widespread criticism that Melbourne centre Curtis Scott's two-match ban for striking was too lenient.

Scott, a New South Wales State of Origin hopeful, on Monday pleaded guilty, accepting the NRL match review committee's suspension for punching Sea Eagles centre Dylan Walker on Saturday night.

Walker has been ruled out for six weeks with a fractured eye socket when Scott connected with one of his punches.

Some critics argued Scott should have been sidelined for a similar time period.

After engaging in a running verbal battle with Walker all night, Scott lashed out at the Sea Eagles' serial niggler and was sent off.

He was given a grade-three striking charge, but the angst over what was regarded as an inadequate ban was heightened because it was whittled down from three weeks to two weeks due to NRL rules.

Under the laws of the game, the number of fine points a player incurs is reduced for every minute off the field.

Because Scott was sent off with 28 minutes to go, his penalty dropped from three weeks to two.

But Manly refused to censure NRL chief executive Todd Greenberg.

"There are rules and we've all signed up for those and we understand where they are," Manly chief executive Lyall Gorman said.

"With these things there's an appropriate protocol and process to go through.

"At the end of each year there's a review of the structure and regulations and that's the appropriate forum for it."

Commentators pointed to the fact that Scott's ban is the same length as the suspension that Canberra forward Joseph Tapine is facing, accusing the match review committee of inconsistency.

Tapine was cited for a shoulder charge during the Raiders' 25-18 loss to St George Illawarra.

He collected Dragons full-back Matt Dufty in the 40th minute on Sunday and was issued with a grade one charge, with an early guilty plea to reduce the penalty from 280 points to 210.

The NRL came in for widespread condemnation after Sydney Roosters forward Dylan Napa was not charged for a tackle which resulted in Brisbane's Korbin Sims suffering a broken jaw.

Broncos coach Wayne Bennett accused the match review committee of failing to exercise its duty of care and accused the game of having an anti-Brisbane bias.

Some also considered Manly hooker Api Koroisau got off lightly after he ran in to punch Scott from the side in the same melee.

Koroisau was given 10 minutes in the sin-bin and suspended for one week, with many considering his offence more serious than Scott's.

AAP

Topics: nrl, rugby-league, sport, melbourne-3000, manly-2095

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