Mitch Moses Slams NRL for Unjustly Charging Teammate Dylan Brown Over Referee Push
In an unexpected outburst, Parramatta Eels star Mitch Moses has lashed out at the NRL’s Match Review Committee (MRC), accusing them of fabricating charges after his teammate, Dylan Brown, was cited for allegedly making contact with referee Gerard Sutton during Monday’s 30-12 loss to Canterbury.
Brown, who plays as the Eels’ dynamic five-eighth, was handed a grade-two contrary contact charge after a minor incident in the first half of the match. As he sprinted to contest a kick, Brown inadvertently made contact with Sutton, who had his back turned as he was positioned in the path of the play. The contact was a result of Brown running from behind the referee, focused entirely on the ball, and unintentionally pushing Sutton in the back with his hands.
Despite the seemingly innocent nature of the incident, Brown was subsequently cited by the NRL’s Match Review Committee, a decision that has sparked a fiery response from his teammate Moses. Speaking to the media following the NRL’s decision, Moses expressed disbelief over the charge, accusing the governing body of manufacturing charges with no clear justification.
“The NRL is just making up their own charges now,” Moses said, visibly frustrated. “It’s ridiculous. Dylan didn’t mean to make any contact with the referee. He was just chasing the ball, and it was a complete accident. To charge him for this is outrageous. He had no intention of bumping into Sutton, and the incident was completely innocent. It’s almost like they’re picking things out of thin air now.”
Moses continued his rant, claiming that the NRL’s decision was harsh and unfair, particularly given the circumstances surrounding the charge. The Eels’ star emphasized that the contact was a minor push, with no malice behind it. “There was no foul play or anything dangerous in what happened,” Moses added. “It’s just a part of the game when players are trying to get to the ball. But now they’re turning it into something it’s not, and it’s a bit of a joke.”
The controversial incident occurred early in the second half, as Brown was attempting to chase down a kick from the Bulldogs. In his effort to get to the ball, he inadvertently collided with Sutton, who was caught in the wrong place at the wrong time. The referee, who was unaware of Brown’s positioning, did not anticipate the contact and was pushed slightly off balance, but there was no sign of any malicious intent from the Eels playmaker.
Brown, who has a reputation for being a clean player, pleaded guilty to the charge, which resulted in a one-game suspension. While he accepted responsibility for the incident, he also expressed surprise at the severity of the charge, believing the whole episode was an unfortunate accident rather than a deliberate infringement.
The NRL has yet to respond to Moses’ scathing criticism, but the decision to charge Brown has sparked heated debate within the rugby league community. Critics of the NRL’s handling of the case argue that Brown’s actions were unintentional and that the punishment is disproportionate to the nature of the incident.
The charge against Brown and Moses’ comments are just the latest in a series of controversies surrounding the NRL’s disciplinary system. Fans and pundits alike have raised concerns over the consistency and fairness of the MRC’s rulings, with many questioning whether the governing body is overzealous in its attempts to crack down on player conduct.
For now, Moses and the Parramatta Eels are left to regroup ahead of their next match, but the fallout from this controversial charge is far from over. The NRL’s handling of this case will undoubtedly be scrutinized further as the debate over the fairness of player charges continues to intensify.
