131 replies to this topic

[Saintslass]

Ive never understood this plead guilty leniency thing. Basically they are saying dont bother trying to claim innocence as we will hammer you, but just admit it (even if you didnt actually do it) and you we will definitely let you off a bit. Very odd.

Exactly.

[terrywebbisgod]

But why would you plead guilty if you're not guilty?

To get a lesser ban.

[Saintslass]

To get a lesser ban.

But you're not guilty so you shouldn't be getting a ban at all.

[Roy Boy]

Why would you plead not guilty if you are guilty?

Hoping for insufficient evidence ?

Who knows the why's and wherefores - needless to say he is and has been dished out a lengthy ban.
I don't expect he'll ever have a gaping mouth next to an opponents head again!

[terrywebbisgod]

But you're not guilty so you shouldn't be getting a ban at all.

Unfortunately they have found that he is.

[Saintslass]

Unfortunately they have found that he is.

Indeed. Although he is still protesting his innocence, which is unusual for rugby league players found guilty of something.

[terrywebbisgod]

Indeed. Although he is still protesting his innocence, which is unusual for rugby league players found guilty of something.

Has to take it on the chin and move on.

[Saintslass]

Has to take it on the chin and move on.

Not if he isn't guilty he doesn't. That's a massive smear on his reputation and if he's not even guilty of it then he should make as big a fuss as he can manage.

[Derwent]

The injury on Slater's ear looks more like a scratch than a bite on this photo....



Can't see any evidence of teeth marks nor any bruising (biting always causes bruising due to the 'crushing' effect on the tissue).

[shaun mc]

Not if he isn't guilty he doesn't. That's a massive smear on his reputation and if he's not even guilty of it then he should make as big a fuss as he can manage.

John Stankeveitch tried this approach and got slated by most

[AndyCapp]

No. I have a number of Australian friends.

Fortunately, even the Victorians know more about rugby than you.

We don't call it Rugby here, that's the game the other blokes play, still you are the know it all MrPosh.

[Viking Warrior]

He's got 12 matchs

thoroughly deserved, it was a shocking incident.

[back to the future]

really confused by this now,i too watched it on Sunday,thought after the allegation from slater and watching the replay i thought guilty as sin,But after Slaters refusal to attend the hearing and Grahams subsequent strong denial,maybe his defence that he was giving Slater some serious scouse verbals could be true.
Graham must have been advised by the dogs about the sentencing precident,plead guilty and get a 8 game ban,but he obviously denied the accusation and so pleading not guilty and risked a larger ban.
As for the starting point of all this,Slater had every right to try and prevent the try,what he did was not illegal or over the top,Perritt had a similar reaction in the semi against Sam Burgess which was proven to be legal.What was wrong was Krisnan Inu's reaction to Slater,I'm surprised that after Stagg ( i think it was him) is trying to drag Slater away from the melee no one has actually picked up on Widdop who actually headbutedt Stagg,I didnt record the game but i'm pretty sure of what i saw first off.
Maybe someone who recorded the whole game can confirm this as the replays on the day only shown the start and end of the fracas

[Exiled Wiganer]

I could see why someone would plead not guilty if guilty, as the case may not be proven against them. I struggle to see why Slater would allege it if it did not happen, especially as it was unlikely that the person would be sent off. Slater is the person best placed to assert that he was bitten, and he did so instantly and was prepared to show the evidence.
I am persuaded Graham did it. What puzzles me is how he came to lose it to that extent in a game more closely watched than pretty much any other he is ever likely to play in... Madness, sheer madness.

[Dennis Bloodnock]

We don't call it Rugby here, that's the game the other blokes play, still you are the know it all MrPosh.

We don't call it Rugby here, that's the game the other blokes play, still you are the know it all MrPosh.

But he is not in Australia though.A lot of people in England call rugby league "rugby"Paley being a prime example

[Blotto]

I reckon he got stitched up by the Judiciary keen to show they're not to be messed with and a pathetic bunch in the Sydney media keen for a bit of Pom Bashing. I suspect the initial contact with Slaters Lug may have been accidental due to all the pushing and shoving going on, he may then have thought to have a nibble, it certainly wasn't a full on bite as he would have been banned sine die, The original instigator was Inu shoving Slater over for whatever reason and not getting booked! Graham should appeal they can't give him any more so he's got nowt to lose!

Regards calling Union as Rugby in Oz is apparently a modern phenomenon thats crept in during the last 15-50 years according to the Man in the Strand!

Edited by Blotto, 05 October 2012 - 03:17 AM.

[frank]

?"



The picture clearly shows one mark on Slater's ear.If Graham had bitten Slater, then a complete set of of puncture marks would have been visible across the ear.

[Cake Tiger]

This is a close up of Slater's ear which shows the injury in a bit more detail.

Slater gave a written statement to the hearing. I presume this was considered, together with the video evidence.

[frank]

This is a close up of Slater's ear which shows the injury in a bit more detail.

Slater gave a written statement to the hearing. I presume this was considered, together with the video evidence.


There is a lot of blood shown in that photo with only one dark laceration.I don't suppose Graham has one tooth longer than the rest.

[Roy Boy]

There is a lot of blood shown in that photo with only one dark laceration.I don't suppose Graham has one tooth longer than the rest.

Apparently he does!
Missing, broken and chipped I read.
Seems strange to me that so many are trying to defend what looked blatant to me.

Still everyones entitled to an opinion - however wrong it is