Nathan Brown charged by RFL

[josie andrews]

Australian Nathan Brown has become the second Super League coach this season to be charged by the Rugby Football League with breaking their rules following his criticism of a referee.

The Huddersfield boss has been told he is to face a charge of breaching the RFL's Respect Policy and their operational rules following post-match comments he made in the wake of his side's 38-6 win over Leeds at Headingley on April 15.

At the press conference, Brown said he would be encouraging his players to take the law into their own hands if match officials fail to protect the game's playmakers.

Only last week, Hull head coach Richard Agar was fined a record STG6,000 ($A9,175) - half of it suspended to the end of the season - by an RFL operational rules tribunal for his criticism of referee James Child.

Brown has been told he has 14 days from last Thursday to either accept the charge or contest it.

Huddersfield are angry that news of the charge emerged after Leeds chief executive Gary Hetherington had publicly expressed his surprise over the League's apparent inaction.

"Having read Mr Hetherington's comments, lo and behold three days later our coach is charged with minor misconduct," said Giants managing director Richard Thewlis.

An RFL spokesman said the delay was the result of the heavy Easter programme of matches and time taken in processing the previous action against Agar.

Second-placed Huddersfield, who slipped off top spot after losing two of their last three matches, host third-placed St Helens on Saturday.

http://www.nrl.com/nathan-brown-charged ... um=twitter

[cpwigan]

Whatever the right and wrongs of what he did the whole sorry episode proves that Mr Hetherington barks and the RFL come running. The excuse for the delay is pathetic and fools nobody. Hang your heads in shame RFL

Incidentally, Mr Hetherington has said similar things this season and shock horror the RFL have said nothing.

[KOOCH]

The rfl are a spineless bunch of cretins. Is it any wonder that we lack the recognition we so richly deserve on the worlds sporting stage with these men in charge? I feel that coaches have every right to question a ref when he his quite clearly inept at his job.Ok I know that the job of being a ref is not an easy one I'll grant them that.But some refs quite clearly are not up to the tasks or are being directed from powers that be.And sadly I fear it is often the latter.These are supposed to be professional refs.Really? Get some back bone rfl and tell Hethrington to pi*s off.

[Kittwazzer]

Interesting that Brown said exactly the same things last season after we played them and not a peep out of Red Hall!

[josie andrews]

Some friends of mine went to the Leigh v Catalan game last week, & they said that James Childs did everything he could to make sure that Catalan went thru. Leigh were the better side but got nothing off the ref!!

[cpwigan]

Childs is a very dangerous referee. He is either incredibly pedantic or likes to be the centre of attention too much but either way his decisions have far too much impact upon the games he officiates.