League: Lower grader banned for biting

North Sydney league player Mitchell Stevens was suspended for 10 matches for biting. Photo / Getty images

North Sydney lower grader Mitchell Stevens has been suspended for 10 matches after being found guilty of biting following a lengthy hearing at the NSW Rugby League judiciary last night.

The panel determined Stevens, who plays for the Bears in the NSW Cup competition, bit Balmain-Ryde forward Jason Schirnack's ear during a wild brawl in their match just over a week ago.

Stevens was visibly upset when the verdict was handed down, with initial indications being that he would contest the sentence.

The hearing lasted just shy of five hours, with Tigers officials tendering photographic evidence of Schirnack's wound as well as a doctor's report which claimed the injury could only have been caused by a bite.

Stevens claimed his mouth never came in contact with Schirnack's ear.

The Bears custodian, who was only filling in to help the club through an injury crisis, last week pleaded guilty to a striking charge for a punch he claimed was responsible for the damage inflicted to Schirnack's ear.

The panel of former first graders Mark Coyne, Sean Garlick and Graeme Wynn saw differently however, and after a 30 minute deliberation, handed down a 1000-point penalty, which equates to a 10-week ban on the dangerous contact charge.

Stevens' defence centred on the fact there was no irrefutable evidence to support that he had bitten Schirnack, while also providing witness statements to suggest it was plausible the injury could have been caused by the punch.

Stevens and Schirnack ended up on the ground amongst a group of players as the brawl escalated, but footage of the incident failed to shed too much light on the matter.

- AAP