Gold Coast captain Kevin Proctor was suspended from NRL justice for four weeks after he was found guilty of biting Shaun Johnson from Cronulla.
Important points:
- Kevin Proctor will be available again for the Titans in turn 19
- Proctor received a 25 percent reduction in his suspension for his good disciplinary record
- Both Proctor and Shaun Johnson testified during the hearing, as did referee Henry Perenara
The incident occurred during the Titans’ 30:18 loss to the Sharks at Kogarah Oval on Saturday.
Proctor received a 25 percent reduction in his suspension for his good disciplinary record over seven years.
It will be available again when the Titans face Manly in turn 19.
The judiciary – consisting of Bob Lindner, Ben Creagh and Sean Garlick – came to their verdict after a hearing lasting more than two hours.
Under cross-examination, Proctor, who was sent off by referee Henry Perenara after the incident in the second half of Saturday’s game, claimed he hadn’t bitten Johnson’s right forearm, but he agreed that his mouth was wrapped over Johnson’s forearm.
“I couldn’t breathe, his forearm was right in front of my mouth,” Proctor said over a video link.
“I have sinus problems so I can’t breathe through my nose [I] have to use my mouth. “
Proctor claimed he tried to open his mouth to “get some air”.
When asked if he could have turned his head to catch some air, Proctor said he couldn’t.
Johnson also testified at the hearing, saying he originally thought he was bitten by Proctor.
“Did I think Proctor bit me? [at the time]? Yes. Do I think no now, “said Johnson.
“At the time I thought I got something, but then as the next few minutes played out and in the shed I thought about it and it didn’t add up to me.
“I was right in the middle of it and that’s what I thought at the time. I thought I got a little bit, so I reacted the way I reacted.
“It was an honest reaction in the heat of the moment, until I stepped back and realized it was Kevvy (Proctor).”
Johnson denied that the couple’s long-term relationship had influenced his decision to change his mind.
He admitted feeling bad about Proctor being sent off for his allegations on the field, but denied having changed his stance out of loyalty to his friend.
Perenara gave evidence that Johnson had a stain on his forearm.
In his post-game incident report, he claimed the Sharks playmaker had been bitten.
“There was a red mark in a circle, I didn’t see any tooth marks,” Perenara told the hearing.
“I saw a clear red mark and my Touch Judge saw that too.”
Perenara said, “Johnson complained about being bitten on the forearm” and so he stopped playing.
“When I asked Shaun if he wanted a punishment, he said ‘no’,” Perenara said.
Video bunker referees Ben Lowe and Steve Chiddy told Perenara at the time of the incident, “We have a vision of a bite.”
The Titans released a statement after the hearing that they would not appeal.
“The Gold Coast Titans and Captain Kevin Proctor accept the judiciary’s decision and approve the panel for a fair hearing,” the statement said.
“Although we are disappointed with the result, the club will continue and look forward to Saturday’s game against the Canberra Raiders.”
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