Sydney Roosters prop Kane Evans was issued with a concerning act notice by the NRL's match review committee but escaped penalty for his shoulder charge on Sam Kasiano.
The NRL's match review committee decided it was sufficient penalty for Evans, who was placed on report for his shoulder charge on Kasiano on Friday night. Evans escaped a ban because the shoulder charge did not make contact with Kasiano's head. The Canterbury prop also did not suffer any whiplash, which the match review committee takes into account when pursuing charges.
While Evans may have escaped further punishment, he was sent a written warning by the match review committee. NRL's match review co-ordinator Michael Buettner defended the decision not to charge Evans.
"It's pretty evident that this was clearly a shoulder charge action," Buettner said. "You can see the arm tucked into the body. Kane Evans made no forceful movement or impact to the head or neck of Sam Kasiano. That according to the judiciary code is why no charge is applicable."
Evans received support from Kasiano, who declared he "loved" the confrontation despite being rocked and placed on his backside. The tackle would have been legal before the shoulder charge was banned in 2013. Brisbane's Adam Blair was rubbed out for two games when he pleaded guilty to a grade two shoulder charge last week.
Buettner reiterated the game's stance of making sure the shoulder charge remains outlawed. "We want players to ensure they are aware that the NRL are diligent when it comes to shoulder charges," Buettner said. "If there is any contact to the head or any severe movement to the head or neck, ie a whiplash motion, then charges will be applied. [There is a] clear message and one we want to make sure players understand that we will continue to be strong on this stance."
A grade-one shoulder charge could see a player rubbed out for two games.
While Evans will escape a ban, carry over points will see Canterbury's Greg Eastwood suspended for one game for his dangerous contact charge on Mitchell Pearce. Canberra flyer Edrick Lee will spend a week sidelined for tripping. Lee's teammate Blake Austin has escaped a dangerous throw ban with an early guilty plea as will St George Illawarra's Leeson Ah Mau for his grade-two careless high tackle charge on Newcastle's Kade Snowden.
Wests Tigers prop Keith Galloway will not miss a game despite a grade-one contrary conduct charge for making contact with referee Chris Sutton in the Wests Tigers 34-16 win against Melbourne at Leichhardt Oval on Friday night.
