Brandon Smith cops ban for his 'cheating bastard' remark at ref
Brandon Smith will miss Melbourne’s next three games after being referred directly to the NRL judiciary for referee dissent.
The Storm hooker called referee Adam Gee a “cheating bastard” during the Storm’s 28-6 loss to Cronulla and was sent to the sin bin.
Smith took issue with Gee’s decision not to award his side a set restart midway through the second half after maintaining Cronulla’s Aiden Tolman had made a second effort in a tackle.
A contrite and forlorn Smith appeared before the NRL judiciary via video link on Tuesday night.
“In the heat of the moment I was extremely frustrated and I took it out on the wrong person,” Smith said.
“I said things that should never be said to an official.
“I will accept any consequence that (the judiciary) comes up with and I will accept it graciously.
“I am genuinely sorry to the game and to the referee.”
Prior to the hearing, Gee told the NRL he had heard Smith call him both a “f***ing cheating p***k” and a “cheating bastard”.
However, Smith said Gee had misheard and that he had actually said “f*** me” in self-admonishment.
Lachlan Gyles SC, counsel for the NRL, did not dispute Smith’s version of events but said suggesting the referee had cheated carried “serious connotations” about the NRL’s integrity.
Gyles suggested a suspension of at least four weeks, pointing to Smith’s status as a senior player with significant popularity amongst impressionable young fans.
He said as the premier rugby league competition in the world, the NRL needed to set a higher standard of player behaviour than any other competition and implored the judiciary to impose a suspension that would deter players from committing similar offences.
Representing Smith, Nicolaous Ghabar said a suspension of four weeks or more would not account for Smith’s early guilty plea nor his contrition.
Ghabar said Smith’s decision to enter an early guilty plea, to immediately leave the field rather than argue with Gee and to apologise afterwards all showed remorse.
Ghabar submitted a character reference from New Zealand coach Michael Maguire, who said Smith was “an exceptionally passionate and committed player” but one who “has always shown he is very respectful of authority and match officials”.
In his reference, Maguire said he found Smith’s comment to have been “out of character”.
Chaired by the Honourable Justice Geoff Bellew and comprised of retired player Tony Puletua and former referee Paul Simpkins, the judiciary deliberated for roughly 10 minutes before imposing Smith’s sanction.
“Offending of this nature has a potentially adverse effect on young players who seek to emulate those playing the NRL competition …and an adverse effect on those who might aspire to become match officials,” Bellew said.
However, the judiciary was satisfied Smith had been genuinely remorseful for his actions, which influenced their decision to impose a sanction less severe than that suggested by the NRL’s counsel.
Smith’s suspension won’t help the Storm’s battle to keep their spot in the top four.
Melbourne have lost their last two games so are now only two points clear of fifth-placed Brisbane and will be without Smith for clashes against Canberra, South Sydney and the Warriors.
Harry Grant is set to start at hooker in Smith’s absence against the Raiders on Sunday, provided he can make it through Wednesday’s State of Origin decider unscathed.
Josh King has been named at lock, Smith’s other position of choice.
Comments on RugbyPass
Big empty stadium does nothing for atmosphere but munster are playing well with solid performance
1 Go to commentsYes, Fiji can win the World Cup! With that belief plus their christian faith🙏 and hard work it is achievable. Great article. Ian Duncan Fiji resident 1981-84
2 Go to commentsInteresting comments about Touch. England’s hosting the Touch World Cup this year and the numbers have exploded since their last World Cup in 2019, something like 70% more teams and 40 nations taking part. And England Touch have made a big thing about how many universities are in their BUCS University Touch Championship as well as Sport England membership. Can only see this growing even more domestically as more people become aware of it
10 Go to comments“Cortez Ratima is light years ahead of anyone on current form, while TJ Perenara has also skyrocketed into contention following the unfortunate injury to the talented Cam Roigard.” At last some sanity. Hitherto so many pundits have been wittering on about Finlay Christie to the point one wondered if they were observing a FC in a parallel universe where the FC they saw wasnt just the mediocre Shayne Philpott project of Fosters hapless AB reign in the real world. Ratima, Perenara and Fakatava are the ONLY logical 9s for Razor now Roigard is crocked.
2 Go to commentsThis game was just as painful as the Hurricanes game. It was real fork-in-the-eye stuff.
2 Go to commentsNow if they could just fire the Crusaders ground PA guy who likes to play his dance music and just loves the sound of his own voice the entire game, even when play is going on. And I thought their brass band thing of a few years ago was bad.
5 Go to commentsUnfortunately when you lose by far the two form players this season in Roigard and Aumua, you're left replacing two game changing Tanks with a couple of pea-shooters. Which is also about the speed of TJs pass.
2 Go to commentsBit rich coming from the guy with zero loyalty to anyone or any team, including happily taking a players place in a league world cup squad because well, SBW wanted to play in it and thus an already named player got told he was no longer going. And airing stuff like this, which may or may not be true, doesn't exactly say you're a stand up guy either SBW. Just looking to keep his name in lights as usual.
38 Go to commentsTamati Tua. …the Taniwha NPC midfielder. Ollie Sapsford, Hawkes Bay NPC midfielder…doing well
2 Go to commentsFiji deserve to be in the rugby championship, fans love seeing the Fijian national team play, the Fijian Drua is a wonderful idea but the players can still be stolen to play for NZ and AUS…
2 Go to commentsThe first concern for this afternoon are wheather forecast…
1 Go to commentsWhy cant I watch Rugby games please?
1 Go to commentsBeautiful shot from Finau, end of story. Gutted for Shaun Stevenson though.
4 Go to commentsThe Chiefs definitely didn’t win ugly. They had the superior scrum, a dominant lineout, and their defence was excellent once the Waratahs scored their two tries (thanks to some lucky refereeing calls mind you). They put pressure on the Waratahs lineout throughout the game, and the mind boggles as to why the referee did not award a yellow card or a penalty try against the Waratahs for repeated scrum infringements on their own try line before Narawa’s first try. And the Chiefs were slick with their passing and running angles on attack. It was a dominant performance all round, even with many questionable refereeing decisions.
1 Go to commentsWasnt late. Ref 2 assistants andTMO all saw it so who are you to say it was?
4 Go to commentsAre the Brumbies playing the Blues twice in a row?
4 Go to commentsBig difference from the Saders. Forwards really muscled up and laid a solid platform. Scooter brought some steel and I liked the loosie combination. Newell has been rather disappointing this season but stepped up big time - happy also to see Franks dot down. He should do that more often! Reihana had a good game and there seems to be more flair and invention with him in the saddle. McNicoll plays well from the back and is reliable plus inventive when he joins the line. Keep it up chaps!
5 Go to comments🤦♂️🤣 who cares who’s the best . All I know is the All Blacks have the star coach but have few star players now …
34 Go to commentsJe suis sûr que Farrell est impatient de jouer avec Lopez et Machenaud et d’être entraîné par Collazo… 🤭
1 Go to commentsAn on field red (aka a full red) in SRP must surely carry a bigger suspension than a red card given by the bunker as that carries a 20 minute team punishment. Had Damon Murphy abdicated his responsibility as a ref and issued both Drua players a yellow, which would have been upgraded to a 20 minute red by the bunker, that would have killed Australia and New Zealand’s push for the 20 minute red to be trialled globally from July this year.
11 Go to comments