League: NRL veteran mystified how Vagana escaped ban

Canberra captain Simon Woolford believes New Zealand five-eighth Nigel Vagana would have received a two-month ban for his tackle on Australia's Trent Waterhouse if the incident from Saturday's Tri-Nations test had occurred during the National Rugby League (NRL) season.

Vagana successfully beat a dangerous throw charge for his 45th minute tackle on Kangaroos backrower Waterhouse on the weekend.

Vagana was charged by a panel comprising of NRL referees boss Robert Finch, video reviewer Greg McCallum and New Zealand official Ian Mackintosh.

The case was held immediately after the match, with the tribunal of Ron Coote, Darrell Williams and Judge Greg Woods taking just five minutes to clear Vagana.

Officials yesterday defended the international tribunal process, which unlike the NRL judiciary system has no prescribed penalty, discount for a guilty plea or loading of previous offences.

But Woolford, suspended for eight weeks during the season for a dangerous throw on Melbourne fullback Billy Slater in July, said Vagana would have faced a much more severe penalty had he made the tackle while playing the NRL.

"I think if that tackle had happened mid-year in the NRL it would have been a six to eight week suspension," Woolford said.

"It's a little confusing. They've come out and said the rules are the same. Well if the rules are the same I think there must be a totally different panel judging the tackle."

- AAP