Lift For Parramatta As Judiciary Clears Dymock To Play
Sydney Morning Herald
Wednesday August 16, 2000
Parramatta playmaker Jim Dymock was last night cleared of a dangerous throw charge after telling the judiciary he moved his hand away from Penrith hooker Craig Gower's crotch when he felt a testicle.
Dymock, whose Australian career would have been over had he been found guilty, can now play in Sunday's preliminary final against Brisbane as the Eels bid to qualify for their first premiership decider in 14 years.
But while they were being buoyed by one piece of news from league headquarters, they were rocked by another as coach Brian Smith was asked to explain comments he made about the judiciary on Tuesday.
In the hearing, Dymock admitted lifting Gower during Saturday's preliminary final but said he was trying to push him backwards and stop the Panthers ``getting on the front foot".
Referring to video footage of the incident which was being shown, Dymock told the tribunal: ``I was under his groin then. I could feel one of his testicles so I tried to move back. I tried to get it [my hand] out, I know it's a bad place. I got in that position because there was nowhere else to go."
Dymock's counsel, Bernard Gross, said the actions of Parramatta hooker Dennis Moran not charged in the tackle were those of ``a classic dangerous throw".
Later, Gower gave evidence by telephone, saying: ``I dived backwards to try and get a penalty. It was just a good tackle. I wasn't hurt. I didn't think there was anything in it."
Under cross-examination from judiciary commissioner Jim Hall, Gower was asked: ``What you're saying is you deliberately dived head-first into the ground?"
Gower: ``Yeah."
Hall: ``Do you do that often?"
Gower: ``Only in semi-finals."
Hall also cross-examined Dymock, saying: ``Do you realise you have an obligation not to make any tackle which might result in a player suffering spinal injuries?"
Dymock replied: ``Yes, but I don't think I was trying to make anyone suffer a spinal injury."
The Australian and Tongan international also said he expected Penrith players to come forward and support Gower, but none did.
Despite ruling there was some doubt about his instructions to last week's hearing concerning lifting tackles by four Canberra players, judiciary chairman Greg Woods gave the same directions last night after asking whether the chairman of the appeals committee, Sir Laurence Street, had ruled on them last Friday.
As part of the directions, Woods told the disciplinary committee of Bob McCarthy, Mal Cochrane and Darrell Williams: ``If a tackled player voluntarily jumps himself ... or dives, that is not a dangerous throw."
Gross asked that the panel take into account the definition of a dangerous throw in the laws of the game but Woods would not allow this, saying: ``The rule book is not the rules for this tribunal."
After the hearing, Dymock referred to Canberra coach Mal Meninga's call for action to be taken over his tackle, saying: ``I hope Mal's happy with that."
He did not blame Meninga for saying it deserved examination. ``They lost three players because of spear tackles and he was just looking for consistency."
NRL public affairs officer John Brady, meanwhile, confirmed Smith had been sent a similar letter to that which was dispatched to Meninga on Monday.
It is understood the league's concerns centre on a suggestion from Smith that Dymock was only charged ``so things look right". A fine will be considered only if the Eels cannot provide a satisfactory explanation.
There were no surprises in preliminary final teams named last night by Sydney, Newcastle, Brisbane and Parramatta, with the Broncos recalling Shane Webcke from injury as expected. He replaced Harvey Howard, who goes back to the bench. Sydney skipper Brad Fittler had influenza yesterday but is sure to play.
The NRL yesterday announced the grand finals judged to be the greatest ever. In order, they are: 1989, 1971, 1993, 1965, 1997, 1981.
Wests Tigers will begin interviewing coaching candidates soon and, AAP reports, Melbourne have released prop Wayne Evans.
Weekend teams Page 41
WEDNESDAY WASH-UP
* Brisbane (v Parramatta, Sun) have named prop Shane Webcke, returning from a broken arm.
* Sydney (v Newcastle, Sat) replaced Scott Logan (cheekbone) on the bench with Dallas Hood.
Continued Page 43
© 2000 Sydney Morning Herald