Rugby League: Banned Kearney misses test - again

SYDNEY - Inspirational Kiwi forward Stephen Kearney will miss the Anzac test against Australia next month after being banned for five matches by the National Rugby League judiciary last night.

The former Auckland Warrior was found guilty of a dangerous throw, or "spear tackle", during Melbourne Storm's NRL match against Brisbane on Sunday.

The five-match suspension means Kearney will miss the next four NRL games for Melbourne and the one-off test at Stadium Australia in Sydney on April 23.

"It's a big blow for us," Kiwis coach Frank Endacott said last night. "But I have to say I'm getting immune to it now - I almost expect it.

"I complain about this every year at this time but I'm not complaining about it this year. People can think what they like, but that's Craig Smith [out for four weeks] and Kearney gone now.

"There's still a few rounds to go and I'm just keeping my fingers crossed there won't be any more."

Kearney was banned at the same time last year, missing the first test. And the latest incident came in the sixth minute of the match against Brisbane when Kearney up-ended Broncos forward Gordon Tallis in a two-man tackle.

The base penalty for the grade one incident is 250 points, which would normally result in a two-game ban as every 100 points equals one match out.

However, Kearney received the five-game punishment for a series of reasons.

Firstly, a previous record at the judiciary meant he faced a further points penalty. A guilty plea would have resulted in 328 points, or three matches out.

Melbourne opted to contest the case and, by doing so, suffered to the tune of 437 points when Kearney was found guilty. Kearney also had 78 points carried over from incidents last season when he played for the Warriors, resulting in a 515 total.

The decision invoked a heated scene in the hearing when Kearney's defence team of Melbourne chief executive Chris Johns and coach Chris Anderson reacted to the announcement.

"We may as well start wearing skirts," said Johns, which brought a sharp rebuke from judicial chairman Greg Woods.

"Please don't come along to these hearings, have a fair hearing, and then start criticising the tribunal. I won't put up with it. If you want to carry on like that, I'll make something of it with the NRL committee," Woods said.

After the hearing, Anderson - who was yesterday named coach of the Kangaroos for the Anzac test - initially appeared unaware that Kearney would miss the test because of the decision.

When asked why Melbourne opted to defend the case, Anderson replied: "We didn't have a lot to lose, only one week."

When it was pointed out that the extra match penalty meant he would miss the test, Anderson said: "We were confident he'd get off, mate, these things happen when you go into court rooms." - NZPA