When harm occurs, Tuilagi modifies his plea
Second-rower Kelma Tuilagi of the Parramatta Eels has changed his plea from contest to no contest for a risky throw, and he will take a five-match suspension. In the course of the Eels’ Saturday loss to the Sydney Roosters, Tuilagi was involved in a hazardous throw that resulted in a Grade 3 dangerous contact charge. If he entered an early guilty plea, he would miss four games; if he challenged the case in the NRL judiciary and was found guilty, he would miss five games.
Tuilagi amended his plea to no contest after deciding to fight before the judiciary. He was scheduled to appear before them on Tuesday night in an effort to weaken the accusation.
That follows a thumb injury, for which the Parramatta forward is expected to miss at least five weeks, if not more, according to a number of publications.
- Because of this, he decided there was no use going to court on Tuesday, and by entering a no-contest plea, he is essentially accepting the punishment he would have received had he entered a guilty plea. NRL players seldom enter a no contest plea; usually, they do so when an injury is a factor and they are considering whether to accept an early guilty plea or face suspension instead of paying a fine. Most often, it comes down to third offense Grade 1 charges, which are punishable by fines up to $3000 or suspensions for two games.
The five games that Tuilagi, who has been playing well, will now miss are Round 17 versus Newcastle Knights, Round 18 versus South Sydney Rabbitohs, Round 19 versus Gold Coast Titans, Round 21 versus Melbourne Storm, and Round 22 versus New Zealand Warriors. Rounds 16 and 20 will be byes. In Round 23 against the Penrith Panthers, he would be qualified for a return.
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