Flanagan Suspended for Four Matches After Judiciary Ruling
St. George Illawarra’s Kyle Flanagan has been handed a four-match suspension by the NRL judiciary following a guilty verdict related to an incident involving Stephen Crichton. Despite the ban, Flanagan insists he did not bite Crichton, asserting during the two-hour hearing that he was unaware a nose was in his mouth at the time.
After the hearing, Flanagan reiterated his stance to the media, asserting, “I definitely did not bite Stephen Crichton,” and emphasized that he does not consider himself a dirty player. He thanked the panel for a fair hearing and expressed his commitment to supporting the Dragons in the coming weeks.
Dragons CEO Ryan Webb also voiced his disappointment with the ruling. Flanagan described himself as the initial victim during the tackle, claiming he felt pressured and poked in the eye by Crichton. He elaborated that Crichton had moved his head in a way that made him feel trapped, leading him to use a maneuver to regain control of the ball.
Flanagan’s lawyer argued that Crichton caused the injuries to his nose, insisting the bite was not as severe as a previous incident involving Jack Wighton, which resulted in a three-match ban. However, the judiciary sided with NRL counsel, who maintained that Flanagan’s actions were intentional.
The absence of Crichton from the hearing drew criticism from Flanagan’s legal team, which argued that Crichton’s lack of testimony weakened the NRL’s case. The NRL is considering implementing rules to require player testimony in future cases.
As a result of the suspension, the Dragons will need to find a replacement for Flanagan in their push for a finals spot, with Jack Bird set to step in against Gold Coast on Sunday. Flanagan will be eligible to return if the Dragons qualify for the finals.