Court battle looms over 'joke' 20-year ban

2 years ago 85

A bush footy subordinate is prepared to spell to the Supreme Court to wide his sanction aft being banned from rugby league for 20 years.

Matt Nean, thing of a fable successful state shot successful the bluish NSW area, was fixed the 20-year suspension for "making contact" with referee James Brown successful a 2016 expansive last betwixt his West Tamworth Lions and aged rivals North Tamworth.

Nean, present 31, was accused of enarthrosis charging Brown, contempt video of the crippled - which helium was not allowed to usage successful his defence - being said to amusement incidental interaction betwixt the pair.

The talented indigenous playmaker was offered an 18-week suspension with an aboriginal blameworthy plea, but wanted to combat it astatine the judiciary - and that's erstwhile helium was slapped with the 20-year ban.

"I can't adjacent spell and ticker my kids play… it has shattered me," Nean, who works for the Tamworth Aboriginal Lands Council, told Wide World of Sports.

"When they said 20 years I thought it was a joke… I soon realised it wasn't.

"I cried that full night.

"Even astatine the judiciary, the referee wanted to alteration the complaint against maine from 'shoulder charge' to 'incidental contact' but was told helium couldn't.

"They wouldn't fto maine usage the video, which showed I conscionable accidentally brushed past him (the referee).

"The deadline for an entreaty is getting adjacent and we person tried each avenue to get the prohibition overturned oregon reduced.

"The Supreme Court seems my past chance. I don't privation to instrumentality that benignant of enactment but it seems I person nary different choice."

Nean admits helium was nary angel successful his younger days but has worked hard to alteration his reputation.

"I enactment mentoring indigenous youths and I conscionable privation to springiness backmost to the game," helium said.

"I privation to manager kids, but I can't due to the fact that of my suspension."

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