JOEL CALLS IT A BUM RAP
Tomkins feels finger has been pointed unfairly
JOEL TOMKINS says he is “mortified” after being hit with an eight- game ban, insisting he did not deliberately make contact with Richie Myler’s backside.
The Catalans back- rower is out of tomorrow’s Super League playoff semi- final with St Helens – and the Grand Final if the Dragons make it.
A Tuesday night disciplinary hearing that lasted almost four hours ruled against Tomkins over the second- half incident in their play- off win over Leeds.
But the former Wigan and Hull KR man, 33, has issued a strenuous denial that there was any intention in his actions which were caught by the television cameras.
Tomkins said: “I’m mortified I’ve been found guilty of this charge.
“My conscience is completely clear on this – there is absolutely no way I would ever attempt to do what I’ve been accused of.
“I’m not denying my hand ends up on Richie Myler’s backside but it was completely unintended.
“I’ve been playing the game for 16 years and it’s not something that would cross my mind or any player’s mind.
“It’s a serious allegation and for someone to accuse you of it, they should have to be certain you intended to do it.”
Tomkins spoke to Myler after the game and thought that would be the end of the issue, only to be “absolutely staggered” when he was charged.
He said: “I hope people don’t judge me from one freeze- frame.
“I’ve made thousands and thousands of tackles over the years without ever being accused of anything like this – I hope people can believe it was completely accidental.
“And even if people want to believe it was intentional, do they think I’d be that stupid to do it so blatantly with 20 cameras pointing at me?”
Tomkins was caught up in an highprofile off- the- field incident in 2018 when he was recorded calling a barmaid “the rectum of Wigan”.
He said: “I’m no stranger to controversy. I’ve always put my hand up and admitted my mistakes.
“But this is absolutely, 100 per cent not one of those instances.
“I’d already been accused, charged and had my reputation tarnished before I faced the tribunal over video link. It felt like I’d already been found guilty and I had to prove I was innocent.
“I’m not going to appeal because, frankly, after this I’ve no faith in their system. But I feel an injustice has been done here.”