Warning for referee assault

A Kerikeri Makos player who admitted striking a Taiamai Taniwha player in the head but denied assaulting the referee in the game in Kerikeri on April 7 escaped with a warning from the Taitokerau Rugby League judicial committee.

The report from referee Wheeru Pou said Jamil King had delivered a post-tackle swinging arm that glanced the tackled player’s head late in the game. King was sinbinned, and, as he left the field, he “barged” Mr Pou, making physical contact.

There was no reference in the report to the issuing of a red card, and judicial committee member Lyndsay Proctor’s efforts to contact Mr Pou before the hearing were unsuccessful.

King admitted making contact with the player’s head, although he said he had flopped on to him as opposed to striking with a swinging arm, but denied physically assaulting the referee, although there had been contact.

He apologised to the committee, the referee and the club, saying he was disgusted with himself, and conceding he had not left the field “the proper way.” His contact with the referee had been unintentional, and totally his own fault. He said he would never assault a referee; he did not want such a reputation for himself or his club.

The referee had not been present after the game to receive a personal apology. King said he had been sinbinned twice before in his 10-year playing career.

Tim O’Leary, who was also playing that day, said the Kerikeri Makos had good rapport with the referees. This incident was unfortunate but the club had to front up to it. King’s actions had been totally out of character.

The committee accepted that King’s apology was sincere. It noted he had been sinbinned, not red-carded, and accepted there had been no malice towards the referee. He was given a warning, the committee expressing the hope he would learn from the experience.