Newcastle forward Mitch Barnett has been suspended for six games at the NRL judiciary for raising his forearm and collecting  Penrith forward Chris Smith in an off-the-ball hit.

Barnett was sent off in the Knights’ 38-20 loss to the Panthers in Bathurst on Saturday and was referred straight to the judiciary on a dangerous contact charge. He pleaded guilty. 

After the NRL’s legal team of Lachlan Gyles argued for an eight-game ban and Barnett’s lawyer Nick Ghabar pleaded for a four-game suspension, the panel of chair Geoff Bellew, Bob Lindner and Tony Puletua met in the middle and gave the forward six weeks off.

The panel deliberated for 32 minutes before handing the 27-year-old his suspension, saying his behaviour was reckless but not intentional.

“I am just hoping Chris is alright, we’ve exchanged text messages,” Barnett said.  “I’m disappointed and I’ll go away and do my time. The lesson learnt is that I can’t be careless in terms of player safety.” 

Barnett was flanked by Knights football manager Danny Buderus as he arrived at League Central on Tuesday for the two-hour hearing. He said he only saw Smith late and put out a “bumper” to protect himself.

The back-rower said he only noticed Smith in his peripheral vision as he was focused on stopping the Panthers spreading the ball to the flank to score a try.

“I have a duty of care to opposition players and I understand that,” Barnett said during the hearing. “It was careless but I never intended to lift my arm that high.”

Barnett’s team claimed the forward’s first point of contact was with Smith’s chest. They also produced a reference from John Quayle, supporting Barnett’s character which played a part in the panel’s decision making. 

The fact the Panthers back-rower only sustained a concussion and no break to his jaw, they said, led them to believe the Knights player should receive a four-game ban at most. Gyles rubbished Barnett’s claims and had argued for a stronger sentence but that fell on deaf ears. 

“This idea that you weren’t able to see him just before contact is simply not true,” said Gyles, who described Barnett’s elbow as a “blunt instrument”.

“You could have got past him easily with just using your hands, couldn’t you? You’re a very coordinated, fit and experienced rugby league defender, can I suggest to you it’s very likely to have been an intentional act.”

Smith has not been named in Penrith’s round-four game against South Sydney, while Barnett will not be able to play for the Knights until round 10 when they face Canterbury.

Trent Robinson. (AAP Image/Dan Himbrechts)

Robbo ruled out with COVID

Sydney Roosters will head to Townsville this weekend without coach Trent Robinson who has tested positive to COVID-19.

Assistant coach Jason Ryles is likely to take the reins although the club has not announced the structure for the Round 4 shoot-out with the Cowboys.

Robinson is self-isolating and plans to be back on deck next week.

“I’m feeling fine and am very comfortable with the plans we have in place, and I’ll be back at the club next week,” Robinson said.

Matt King and Brett Morris are Robinson’s other assistants but Ryles has more experience after serving a lengthy apprenticeship at Melbourne under Craig Bellamy.

World Cup chiefs to meet NRL clubs over releasing players

The chief executive of Rugby League World Cup, Jon Dutton, will spend a fortnight in Australia during the international window in June to speak to allay any lingering concerns about the tournament among NRL clubs.

The reluctance of NRL clubs to release players when COVID-19 rates were running high forced the 16-nation competition’s postponement from 2021 to late this year.

“It’s just really important to remember that the players are not centrally contracted – this isn’t rugby union or cricket – so I’m going to meet every NRL chief exec,” Dutton said on Monday.

“I’ll be meeting all the nations that are out there and I’m going to meet the NRL and get out there and talk about our journey, build relationships and make sure everyone’s prepared.

“A lot of people associated with the likes of Italy, Lebanon and Greece are based in New South Wales so it’s important from that perspective.”

Dutton, speaking in Manchester to mark 200 days to the opening game, said officials are better placed to organise a successful World Cup than they at this time last year.

Sales have topped 50 per cent for both the opening game between England and Samoa at Newcastle United’s St James’ Park on October 15 and the finals double header at Old Trafford on November 19 and Dutton is convinced they will be among a host of sell-outs.

“We are definitely in a better position than this time last year,” he said. “I remember 200 days before the scheduled start of the World Cup, we were surrounded by uncertainty. It feels different. We’ve got more resource, we’ve had more time.”