League: Decision on tackle angers Aussies

SYDNEY - Kiwi Nigel Vagana's surprising escape from suspension for a dangerous tackle on Trent Waterhouse in last weekend's Tri-Nations league test continues to cause angst in Australia.

As Waterhouse and his Kangaroos team-mates left Sydney for Auckland last night, controversy continued to rage over the circumstances surrounding Vagana's exoneration with former great Bob Fulton claiming a bungled judicial system nabbed the wrong man.

The Kiwis five-eighth was found not guilty of a dangerous throw on Waterhouse, who was gang tackled by Vagana and second rower Frank Pritchard in the 45th minute of the Kiwis' historic 38-28 victory.

Waterhouse was upended by the pair and was fortunate not to suffer serious injury in an incident which led to both New Zealanders being placed on report by English referee Steve Ganson.

The tackle was initially referred to the match review committee, a three-man panel who cleared Pritchard of any wrongdoing but referred Vagana to an international judicial panel comprising former Australian great Ron Coote, Judge Greg Wood from New South Wales and former Kiwis international Darrell Williams.

It has been claimed the judicial panel cleared Vagana after a five-minute deliberation because they believed it was Pritchard who should have been charged.

One panel member was said to have thought Pritchard was at least 80 per cent responsible for the tackle.

After the match Pritchard agreed, saying: "It was my fault and I'd hate to see Nige miss a test because of it."

Fulton was adamant the match review committee had charged the wrong player.

Review committee member and former test referee Greg McCallum rejected the criticism.

"Myself, [NRL referees' boss] Robert Finch and [New Zealand Rugby League referees' boss] Ian Mackintosh viewed the incident from the two available angles and cleared Pritchard of lifting.

"Vagana was responsible for the player being lifted off the ground and being placed in a dangerous position so that his head made contact initially with the ground."

Pritchard had no case to answer.

"He effected a turtle tackle where he spun Waterhouse around.

"Had Vagana not joined in, Waterhouse would have landed on his back. It was when Vagana lifted in the tackle that Waterhouse ended up where he did."

Ironically Pritchard will miss the test anyway after he was omitted from the 17-man squad.

- NZPA