The NRL judiciary has banned Melbourne hooker Brandon Smith for three matches for calling referee Adam Gee a 'cheating bastard' in their loss to Cronulla.
Brandon Smith will miss Melbourne's next three games after being referred directly to the NRL judiciary for referee dissent.
Gyles suggested a suspension of at least four weeks, pointing to Smith's status as a senior player with significant popularity among impressionable young fans. He said as the premier rugby league competition in the world, the NRL needed to set a higher standard of player behaviour than any other competition and implored the judiciary to impose a suspension that would deter players from committing similar offences.Representing Smith, Nicolaous Ghabar said a suspension of four weeks or more would not account for Smith's early guilty plea nor his contrition.
Ghabar said Smith's decision to enter an early guilty plea, to immediately leave the field rather than argue with Gee, and to apologise afterwards all showed remorse. Ghabar submitted a character reference from New Zealand coach Michael Maguire, who said Smith was "an exceptionally passionate and committed player" but one who "has always shown he is very respectful of authority and match officials".Chaired by the Justice Geoff Bellew and comprised of retired player Tony Puletua and former referee Paul Simpkins, the judiciary deliberated for roughly 10 minutes before imposing Smith's sanction.
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