Having a quick look at the guidelines he could actually get more than 3 games. A couple of snippets.....

− Player has record of the same or a similar offence in the past - should result in a higher
penalty than would otherwise be the case.

− If the Misconduct has caused injury to an opponent, this may result in a higher penalty than if
no injury had occurred.
− Panels may consider the length of time an injured opponent is likely to be out of the game
when passing sentence.

I wonder if a tribunal has ever stepped outside guidance before - and would this be a case they might consider it?

Players and Clubs should be aware that the normal suspension ranges are guidelines only and the Tribunal has the discretion to step outside of the normal ranges in the following three circumstances:
- If the Compliance Manager has advised the Player that, in the light of specified aggravating factors, she is going to seek a higher sanction and the Tribunal agree that such factors mean a higher sanction should be imposed;
- If the Tribunal has previously advised the Player that it will apply a higher sanction next time that Player is found to have committed a misconduct Offence; or
Sentencing Guidelines January 2010 Page 9 of 10
- If the Tribunal feels that in the light of the aggravating and mitigating factors present it is appropriate to step outside of the normal suspension range (irrespective of whether this has been requested by the Compliance Manager

Disgusting. But nothing the RFL do suprises me anymore. Spineless gits.

Are the decisions to cite, and the reviewing pannel the same people? If so, I very much doubt they'll step outside the guidelines. Even if its different set of people I'd be very suprised if they wanted to stick their heads above the parapet, even where it is obvious the level of sanction set is farcical.

The disciplinary seems to run like a lottery.
I'm as big a fan of Sinfield as you'll find on these boards but I reckon he's very lucky to get away with NFA after kicking out in the tackle...neither the officials nor the DVD managed to see any 'conclusive evidence'.

That's what galls me about the leniency of Chase's charge. There's nothing inconclusive about the evidence there.

The intention was clear and the result is horrendous for Ropati...but not for Chase. Shameful all round IMO.

Agreed. Very poor decision. What exactly does a player have to do to get a lengthy ban in our game? That's as bad a challenge as I've seen for many years and 2-3 games is ridiculous.

I assume it is set up that way to avoid collusion. The compliance officer can request it but it would go in the letter to Rangi - not been mentioned.
Now it is left to the tribunal to take the initiative.

The tribunal rota shows the 3 tomorrow are, P Charlesworth ,W George and R Bridge

I'm not holding my breath.

It's not what you do it's who you are.

It looked like a clash of heads, if thats helps.

Its not likely he did, no doubt you did though.

Oh dear

wow, seen the replays now...........that is disgusting, its assault is that............horrible attack, massive ban for that should be the minimum!!

Remains to be seen what the panel will do, but the charge looks like a rather pathetic cop-out and is extremely disrespectful of the severity of Ropati's injury.

On a point of interest - is there any precedent for RL players reporting an on-field assault to the police?

Just found this, but can't find anything post-trial.
[urlhttp://www.yorkpress.co.uk/news/8442862.Rugby_player_appears_in_court_accused_of_pitch_assault/?ref=rss[/url

It is disgraceful, however I knew as I am sure most did the RFL would be spineless! they are a joke..

What a JOKE ban length. If he did that in the street he'd be in jail!

Told you.

I can only repeat what others have said in that 2-3 matches would be a travesty of justice, especially when one considers the impact this incident will have on Ropati's season.

Didn't someone sounding like Craig Miles who played for Doncaster appear in court for assaulting Dean Lawford. Cannot remember the outcome.

In the early 90s I ref'd a NW Counties semi between Wigan St Pats & Leigh Miners. An incident occurred that resulted in Pete Marsh from Miners being charged with ABH. Even though I never saw the incident, nor did any touch judges because none had been appointed (yeah, a cup semi between two sides with history and no TJs), I spent three days at Liverpool Crown Court waiting to be called as a witness. At the closing stages, on the third day, I was told I wouldn't be needed. IIRC Pete Marsh got a suspended sentence and a hefty fine.

I vaguely remember a similar situation a few years ago whereby some fans had phoned the police to report another player and their response was that if they got a large amount of concern they would 'look into it'. I don't recall anything ever happening.

Some people need their heads testing on this thread.

Massive over-reaction - it's like no one has seen a bad tackle before. It was ill-timed, nothing more and deserves banning.

Calls for 8 games etc are just flipping ridiculous. I look forward to some consistency over the next few weeks for every high tackle that results in a player being removed from the field of play by having a thread for it.

Pathetic!
At least Gronk had the good grace to take the shame and desert this thread after the videos were posted.

There are certain extreme cases, where the assault couldn't in any way be construed to be accidental or a hazard of the job, where the victim *should* report it to the police - thugs like Chase need to be sent a very clear message that this kind of violent assault has no place on a RL field.

Being involved with jr rugby, it's a genuine worry that the current SL MoS and an England international can run up to a bloke, literally smash his face in with a forearm then stand over him sneering, and be back on the pitch in a few weeks time and probably be in an England jersey later in the year; what kind of message does that send out to young players about how to behave, or to the parents of those players about how the sports administrators will look out for their kids?

It's a rum do - I just hope that Ropati recovers quickly and that Fev can look after him in some way whilst he's unable to earn.

The problem is that pretty much to a man everyone agrees that it was nothing short of thugish and didn't look anything like a tackle............Everyone saw that apart from some Cas fans.
Strange that eh!!
Maybe just maybe it is you who 'needs their head testing' and the RFL show grow a set and actually put a proper marker down on this kind of stuff.

He went for a big hit and got it wrong. Do you genuinely believe that players deliberately set out to injure each other? I do believe he deserves banning and I do not disagree that it was a bad tackle. But eight games? Come on? Where's the ostracising of other players?

I don't know whether some of this 'moral panic' situation has been amplified due to the fact that Rangi decided to play for England - I would hope not - but I think people have let their 'emotions' over-rule their heads.

I've seen similar tackles without this reaction - the injury makes it worse granted but if Ropati had just got up and dusted himself down, would we be having this thread? No.

Yip and you're the person not to say it.