Vagana 'should have got 10 matches'
By Dean Ritchie in Manchester
November 19, 2005
THE sickening tackle that left Great Britain halfback Paul Deacon nursing horrific head injuries would have seen New Zealand's Nigel Vagana banned for 10 matches had the incident occurred in the NRL.
The tackle would have attracted a grade-four reckless charge - and would not be dismissed with a one-match suspension, as happened, NRL match review committee chairman Greg McCallum told The Daily Telegraph last night.
It was another day of drama in England yesterday over the Deacon controversy with:
* NEW Zealand coach Brian McClennan claiming Vagana could have been exonerated for the high tackle that left Deacon facing reconstructive surgery.
* AUSTRALIA captain Danny Buderus calling for a grading system to be introduced into Test football, to ensure consistency.
* VAGANA contacting Deacon to apologise.
* SKY Sports demanding yet failing to be granted an exclusive interview with Deacon.
Deacon remains "black and blue" after being hit high by Vagana in the Tri-Nations Test in Huddersfield last weekend.
The Kiwi star was banned for just one game by a Tri-Nations judiciary despite Deacon suffering a fractured palate, a broken nose, a fractured cheekbones and a broken eye socket.
"Having viewed the tackle, it falls into the reckless category," McCallum said.
"You have to take into account the seriousness of the injury.
"He would have been looking at a suspension of up to 10 matches.
"It appeared as though there was direct contact with the head and face.
"His (Vagana's) feet were planted and his arm was swinging upwards."
McClennan said Vagana should now be left alone, and could have actually escaped punishment.
"It's a collision sport, people get hurt," McClennan said.
"After watching it, Nigel could have got off all together. It was an accident.
"Deacon ducked; Nigel was trying to wrap up the ball.
"I think everyone has been put out because of the extent of the injuries.
"A broken nose is part and parcel of playing professional rugby league."
McClennan said he, Vagana and the New Zealand camp were concerned for Deacon.
"It was an unfortunate accident - no one likes to see these things happen," he said.
"Nigel has made phone contact with Deacon. He is keeping in touch with Deacon through our player Shontayne Hape, who plays at Bradford with Deacon.
"Nigel is very concerned.
"But the judiciary, and there was a Great Britain representative on the panel, looked at it and gave Nigel one match. We should all get on with things now.
"In the end we are all rugby league people and we look after ourselves."
Vagana has remained in England rather than travel to France with the Kiwis to work on some niggling injuries, McClennan said.
Buderus said the international game needed consistency at judiciary level, and could implement a NRL-style grading system.
"They should probably have an international grading system," Buderus said.
"Players in NRL know what is acceptable.
Kangaroos second rower Craig Fitzgibbon added: "(The tackle) sounds pretty bad. He has hit someone hard enough to break their palate.
"I haven't seen it but it doesn't sound real flash."
