The National Rugby League Competition (NRLC) Match Review Committee suspended two Mendi Muruks players
after citing them for Contrary Conduct in the Digicel Cup Major Semi Final match between PRK Mendi Muruks and Agmark Rabaul Gurias.
The decision was reviewed after an appeal was submitted by the Mendi Muruks’ team management against the one-week suspension each for Julius Yakopa and Charlie Simon. In the 77th minute, Muruks five-eighth and captain Charlie Simon and second rower Julius Yakopa disputed the referee’s decision to call a knock on and used offensive language at the referee.
Their actions delayed the game for over three minutes as the referee repeatedly called for the scrum to be set. After fulltime Simon and Yakopa carried on with contrary conduct towards the referee which incited some spectators to react by throwing plastic water containers towards the field of play.
Appeals Committee Decisions:
Referee’s Actions Reviewed: Referee failed to put Charlie Simon and Julius Yakopa on report and also failed to sinbin/send them off during the time of the incident which held up the game for 3 minutes.
Decision Outcome: Referee’s failure to penalize the players has enabled the Appeals Committee to reduce the demerit points by 50%, enabling both Mendi Muruks players to take the field in this Sunday’s Preliminary Final against Kroton Hela Wigmen.
Players’ Actions Reviewed: The actions of both players also impacted the game after fulltime by inciting spectators to throw water bottles and other items towards the interchange areas and field of play which is not acceptable to the ground standards of Digicel Cup games.
Decision Outcome: A fine of K10,000 has been imposed on PRK Mendi Muruks for the actions of the two players inciting unacceptable crowd behavior after the game.
We hope this sends the message to franchise officials and players and spectators that contrary conduct and disrespectful behavior will be acted upon. Such behavior should not be allowed to diminish the enjoyment of the finals for the majority of spectators.