Mitch Moses says the NRL are “just making up their own charges”, slamming the match review committee for citing his Parramatta teammate Dylan Brown over a referee push.
Brown has pleaded guilty to the grade-two contrary contact charge he incurred for bumping into referee Gerard Sutton while running to contest a kick in Monday’s 30-12 loss to Canterbury.
The Eels five-eighth had eyes for the ball and put his hands into Sutton’s back while running from behind the referee, who did not see him coming.
The New Zealand international will serve his one-game ban in next Sunday’s clash with Gold Coast given Parramatta have the bye this weekend.
Canterbury star Viliame Kikau had better luck at the judiciary, overturning his fine of $1800 for a dangerous contact charge involving Moses.
Kikau was sin-binned during Monday’s win over the Eels after he collided with Moses after a kick.
Referee Gerard Sutton described it as “no attempt to tackle” with “a high risk of injury” with Fox Sports analyst Cooper Cronk claiming that Moses had milked the impact in order to get a penalty.
Kikau was facing a $2500 fine by challenging the judiciary but his successful result also means he does not have another offence on his record which could prove helpful later in the season as the Dogs mount their playoff charge.
The improving Eels are still in the fight for a top-eight berth and Moses was incensed that his star halves partner had been charged for the contact, which he felt was completely incidental.
“I don’t understand it,” Moses told AAP at NSW camp for the second State of Origin match.
“He’s competing for the ball, he’s got his eyes up for the ball.
Dylan Brown. (Photo by Scott Gardiner/Getty Images)
“I don’t know what you want him to do, stop competing and pull out of the play? Obviously the ref is there but it’s a hard one.”
Players have received suspensions for contact with match officials before, with Melbourne halfback Jahrome Hughes notably sitting out one game in early 2024 for pushing Chris Butler.
But the situation is complicated by the fact Wests Tigers halfback Jarome Luai also pushed a referee to the ground during round 14.
Luai was not even charged for making contact with Ziggy Przeklasa-Adamski as he too ran towards a kick in Sunday’s loss to Penrith.
“The judiciary is probably just making up their own charges at the moment. It’s all over the shop,” Moses said.
Moses said his long-time teammate wasn’t the type to show unnecessary aggression on the field, either.
“There’s not a bad bone in him,” Moses said.
“He’s one of the nicest kids you’d ever meet. I don’t think he’s ever been in a push and shove on the field, not once.
“And we’re charging him for making contact with the ref while he’s competing on a play while there’s a high ball in play. I just don’t understand.
“No player means to go out and run into a ref.
“I just don’t understand where that mindset comes from, and we lose one of our best players because of it? Because he’s competing on a play? It just doesn’t make sense.”
Mystery over new Broncos logo
Brisbane look set to change their logo with a new design being submitted to IP Australia as part of the trademark registration process.
After starting out with a cartoon-style Bronco as their logo in 1998, the club switched to its current design in 2000.
The Sydney Morning Herald reported that a new option has been registered but the club remains cagey about whether it will be adopted next season.
A black and white version has been submitted with the Broncos likely to adopt their traditional maroon as the main colour, potentially incorporating gold as well.
“A newly created corporate design was recently submitted to IP Australia,” a Broncos spokeswoman told the SMH.
“The design has not been approved, accepted or registered at this point.”
Brisbane wore an all black strip last Friday in their win over Gold Coast as part of an initiative to raise funds for the Black Dog Institute.
with AAP
