Jordan McLean has been banned for seven matches by the NRL judiciary who have found him guilty of a dangerous throw on the Newcastle Knights Alex McKinnon; McLean pleaded not guilty to the charge but the judiciary panel of three disagreed.
Jordan McLean faces the judiciary panel at tonight's hearing into the Alex McKinnon tackle. Source: News Limited
MELBOURNE Storm forward Jordan McLean has been controversially suspended for seven matches after being found guilty of a 'dangerous throw' on seriously injured Newcastle Knights player Alex McKinnon.
Rising star McLean left the two-and-a-half hour hearing at League Central shattered at the verdict.
The three-man NRL judiciary panel consisting of ex-players Bob Lindner, Mal Cochrane and Chris McKenna did not accept evidence from McLean's counsel, Nick Ghabar, that McKinnon played a signifcant role by ducking his head in the tackle.
"He (McKinnon) unfortunately and unwittingly plays a substantial part in the tackle. I don't know why he did it," Ghabar said.
McKinnon is in a serious condition at the Alfred Hospital in Melbourne with a fracture to his C4 and C5 vertebrae.
It is unknown whether McKinnon, who was removed from an induced coma on Sunday, will walk again.
The panel took just 10 minutes to retun their guilty verdict.
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Jordan McLean fronts Wednesday night's judiciary hearing. Source: News Limited
The panel took considerably longer to decide McLean's fate after hearing futher submissions in regards to what penalty McLean should receive.
NRL judiciciary counsel Peter Kite had asked for a penalty of seven to 11 weeks while Ghabar had sought a penalty of one to three weeks.
Kite submitted the charge should be considered as a grade three dangerous throw which carries 525 points and a further 600 points for the seriousness of the injury to McKinnon.
McLean had been placed on report for a dangerous throw in the 40th minute of last Monday week's match at AAMI Park.
He was the only Melbourne player charged by the NRL match review committee despite two other defenders, Jesse and Kenny Bromwich, also being involved in the tackle. McLean was referred directly to the judiciary and pleaded not guilty on Wednesday night.
"It was a terrible accident," said Storm CEO Mark Evans. "There has been a due process and a sentence has been handed down. We will think about our position in the next few days. There are no winners in this - there was never going to be."
Judiciary panel member Bob Lindner, judiciary panel chair Paul Conlon and panel members Chris McKenna and Mal Cochrane. Source: News Limited
During the hearing, Kite said: "There is clear evidence that Jordan McLean lifts player McKinnon and player McKinnon achieves a dangerous position which passes through the horizontal. It is clear that his head was going to be the first point of contact with the ground.
"(McLean) lifts the leg and continues to drive with his shoulder as he lifts. Substantial responsibility of the lift is borne by player McLean."
Kite did not suggest the tackle was intentional, rather careless.
A disconsolate Jordan McLean leaves the NRL Judiciary hearing. Source: News Limited
"It is my submission that player McLean is responsible, substantially, for the dangerous position," Kite reiterated.
McLean did not give evidence. In fact he stared directly ahead all hearing, not once shifting his head marginally to the right to watch any video evidence.
It was almost as if he couldn't bear to watch the tackle again.
Ghabar respectfully and reluctantly claimed McKinnon played a role in the tackle.
"This is a tragic accident," he said. "I am not going to criticise what he (McKinnon) did" but there were "factors beyond Jordan's control".
Ghabar added: "He (McKinnon) ducked and tucked his head into his chest with his shoulder down. I don't want this to be seen as a criticism.
"(But) it was a legitimate tackle aimed at getting the ball-player off balance. The tackle didn't get Alex into a dangerous position."
Melbourne CEO Mark Evans addresses the media after the hearing.Picture Gregg Porteous Source: News Limited
Ghabar said McLean's contribution to the tackle was "minimal", not "substantial".
"This was a terrible, terrible accident," he said. "There will be no winners here tonight.
"Whatever you (the panel) decide, sympathy from the whole of the league is with Alex McKinnon. You have look at this objectively and take out the emotional attachment and exercise your common sense having played the code."
Newcastle Knights forward Willie Mason sits down with the NRL 360 panel to talk about Alex McKinnons injury and how it has impacted the Newcastle Knights.
Judiciary chairman Paul Conlon offered instructions to the panel, saying the verdict would "not be an easy task".
"You have to act dispassionately and fearlessly," Conlon said, who added the panel had to "disregard the resulting injury."
McLean was originally stood down from Melbourne's match against Canterbury last weekend by the NRL but that decision was overturned.
McKinnon damaged his C4 and C5 vertebrae and faces being a quadriplegic. The Knights player was in an induced coma following surgery but is now in a serious but stable condition and is conscious.
The family of McKinnon, who has only limited feeling in his right arm, have been keeping a bedside vigil at the Alfred Hospital in Melbourne since the incident.
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