Group 4: Trio cop additional bans

After being charged last month with “mis-conduct” and being punished accordingly, West Lions’ Sean Nean, and Narrabri pair, Andrew Harvey and Kyle Adams, were cited to front a special disciplinary committee.

During the final hearing, Nean was handed an additional 20 year suspension to the 10 he had already been handed.

He will also face Tamworth court later this month in relation to an alleged incident on the field after being charged by Oxley police. 

Harvey was charged with continuing to fight and Adams re-entering the field of play after being sent-off.

Both were again unable to appear before the committee and their hearings were held in their absence.

Harvey was handed an additional 10 years to his judiciary suspension of 15 years, while Adams was suspended for an additional five years on top of the original 10 years he received.

Lions’ half-back Matt Nean also previously received a 20-year suspension and North Tamworth’s Christopher Cutmore-Berry, two.

The actions of what Group 4 vice-president Ray McCoy referred to as “a very small number of individuals” has irrefutably damaged the Group’s reputation, and cost it one of its major sponsors.

But officials remain positive and are looking ahead.

“The Group 4 management committee has been very proactive in moving forward, to not only secure new sponsors, but to also fine-tune a number of exciting initiatives that were already in progress for season 2017,” McCoy said.

All players now have the right to appeal their suspensions to Country Rugby League (CRL).

“The review of the incidents from Group 4’s grand final day are currently ongoing, and once the Group have notified Country Rugby League of their completion – we will consider any appeals which we receive,” CRL operations manager Bert Lowrie said. “There are some very serious allegations to be reviewed from the match and if proven guilty, any charges will be dealt with accordingly.”