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LEEDS - New Zealand Rugby League (NZRL) chairman Andrew Chalmers has renewed his attack on the disciplinary process after Great Britain prop Sam Burgess escaped censure for a tackle that left Kiwi Fuifui Moimoi nursing jaw and neck injuries.
A three-man match review panel comprising Rugby Football League (RFL) representative Stuart Cummins and Great Britain team manager Abi Ekoku today overruled NZRL board member Neville Kesha, a former test referee who wanted the tackle referred to the judiciary.
Test debutante Burgess, 18, was penalised by Australian referee Tony Archer and placed on report for the hit during the Kiwis' 14-20 first test loss on Huddersfield on Sunday (NZT).
Chalmers was appalled Burgess was not sent to the judiciary, claiming the panel was "loaded" in Great Britain's favour because of Cummins position as chair.
Chalmers first took aim at the process after Great Britain enforcer Adrian Morley escaped further penalty after his swinging arm connected with Awen Guttenbeil during the All Golds centenary match with the Northern Union.
Kesha was also overruled when the same match review panel met.
"It's deja vu. It was an appalling set-up job to let Morley free last week and this one just leaves me gobsmacked," said Chalmers.
"We were carved up faster than a pork roast at a hangi," he said.
"There is absolutely nothing equitable about the system the RFL has in place. They have two sets of rules - one to suit them and one for dealing with us."
Moimoi was also cited for leading with the elbow when running into Burgess late in the match - he was also cleared.
Chalmers said neither he nor anyone involved with the New Zealand camp had been notified in advance that Moimoi would be cited.
" The regulations in place require any citing, apart from players put on report or ordered off, to be lodged in writing by 10.30am the day after the test.
"This wasn't done in this case. The first we knew of anything to do with a potential charge against Fuifui was when we walked into the RFL's hearing.
"The RFL told us a verbal citing was lodged with the match commissioner immediately after the test on Saturday night (Sunday NZ time). But who bothered to let us know? No one."
Chalmers said the NZRL tabled a report from Kiwis team doctor Simon Mayhew stating Moimoi had suffered whiplash from the Burgess tackle but claimed it was barely considered.
"There wasn't a moment's hesitation from the home-based parties in dismissing the case against Burgess but once they moved onto Fuifui's incident, the tone changed completely.
"With this current system in place the numbers will always be stacked against us Kiwis. They seem intent on treating us like a bunch of natives from the colonies," Chalmers said.
Moimoi is still on painkillers but may play in the second test (Sunday, NZT) in Hull though he is having difficulty eating and has been unable to train.
Meanwhile Great Britain coach Tony Smith insisted justice had been done but he believes there should be an overhaul of the international discipline procedures.
"It's not worked well for many years," the Australian said.
"We need to come up with a system that fits right and it's got to be different to the club system.
"To be suspended for a test match is a whole lot different to being suspended from one game of a 27-round competition.
"We may need to be a bit more liberal maybe with the sin bin and deal with things at the time if they're pretty clear cut.
"The incident such as Sam's the other day, which was accidental rather than deliberate, may have warranted 10 minutes in the sin bin and then it's done and dusted.
"For him to miss a game would have been unjust because it's a third of the whole series. That is like suspending someone from the normal competition for nine games."
- NZPA
