Add articles to your saved list and come back to them any time.<\/p>\n
Jack Wighton will spend the first three games of South Sydney\u2019s 2024 campaign on the sideline after being found guilty of biting.<\/p>\n
Wighton, who unsuccessfully argued that Tyson Gamble made the on-field allegation in a bid to swing Sunday\u2019s elimination final Newcastle\u2019s way, was given a three-week suspension at the NRL judiciary on Tuesday night after leaving teeth marks on Gamble\u2019s forearm in his last game for Canberra.<\/p>\n
The Rabbitohs-bound star said pressure applied by Gamble to his mouth was the sole cause of the marks \u2013 and that \u201cnot at one stage did I bite down\u201d \u2013 but his protests were dismissed by the judiciary panel after an 80-minute hearing.<\/p>\n
Kangaroos Test coach Mal Meninga tendered a character reference for Wighton, claiming the bite was \u201cout of character\u201d as the NRL argued for a four-week suspension.<\/p>\n
Wighton delivered a fiery response to NRL counsel Patrick Knowles at one point, asking \u201chow many games of rugby league have you played?\u201d in response to questioning about the interpretation of \u201cextreme pressure\u201d being applied in a tackle that left Gamble\u2019s forearm covering Wighton\u2019s mouth.<\/p>\n
The outburst \u2013 which came via zoom alongside Raiders CEO Don Furner \u2013 prompted a strong rebuke by NRL judiciary chairman Geoff Bellew.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Tyson Gamble\u2019s forearm after the alleged bite.<\/span>Credit: <\/span>Fox Sports<\/cite><\/p>\n Bellew also cautioned panel members Tony Puletua and Paul Simpkins against speculating on questions of Gamble\u2019s intention in making his on-field complaint, as suggested by Wighton\u2019s defence counsel Nick Ghabar.<\/p>\n \u201cCanberra was leading by 20 points. Bear in mind this was the opposition\u2019s best player,\u201d Ghabar said.<\/p>\n \u201cWhether it was a sin bin or send off, he was seeking to gain an advantage.\u201d<\/p>\n The Wighton camp\u2019s suggestions were effectively dismissed by Bellew, as was the inference that Gamble\u2019s refusal to provide a submission undermined the NRL\u2019s case.<\/p>\n Given Wighton retired from representative rugby league earlier this year, any suspension is set to be served at club-level. It will delay the start of his playing career at South Sydney, where he has signed a four-year deal worth more than $3 million.<\/p>\n The suggestion of Wighton making himself available again for rep duties has gathered momentum in rugby league circles since Sunday.<\/p>\n A request for Australia\u2019s end-of-season Test campaign to be included in his ban would need to be approved by Bellew. He told this masthead after the hearing that any official application \u2013 which could also include a potential NRL All Stars clash \u2013 would be considered on its merits.<\/p>\n Wighton maintained he did not bite Gamble throughout proceedings.<\/p>\n \u201cAs I was going to ground, he\u2019s wrapped his arm around my head with extreme pressure \u2026 he was squeezing my head,\u201d Wighton said.<\/p>\n \u201cThat explains why there\u2019s teeth marks there but there was definitely no biting \u2026 His arm was just literally jammed in mouth. There was nothing I could do at all.\u201d<\/p>\n Knowles pointed to photos of Gamble\u2019s arm and Ashley Klein\u2019s referee report that identified \u201cone set of teeth marks\u201d.<\/p>\n \u201cMere pressure applied to the mouth wouldn\u2019t create a mark like that,\u201d Knowles said. \u201cCommon sense will tell you that a mark like that is made by intention to bite down.\u201d<\/p>\n Stream the NRL Premiership 2023 live and free on <\/b>9Now<\/b>. <\/b><\/p>\n Sports news, results and expert commentary. <\/i><\/b>Sign up for our Sport newsletter<\/i><\/b>.<\/i><\/b><\/p>\nMost Viewed in Sport<\/h2>\n
From our partners<\/h3>\n